FIFA lifts ban on All India Football Federation

In a big development, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to lift the suspension that was imposed on the All India Football Federation or AIFF.

As per reports, the ban on India’s apex governing body which was imposed due to what FIFA termed undue third-party influence, has been lifted after FIFA received confirmation that the mandate of the committee of administrators or CoA that was set up to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee had been terminated by the Supreme Court and that the AIFF administration had regained full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs.

Furthermore, FIFA and the AFC will continue to monitor the situation and will support the AIFF in organising its elections in a timely manner.

As a consequence, the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 scheduled to take place between October 11 to 30, 2022 will be held in India as originally planned.

It may be mentioned that earlier on August 16, world football governing body FIFA had officially suspended the AIFF, casting a shadow of uncertainty over plans to host the Under 17 Women’s World Cup in India.

Now, with FIFA officially lifting the suspension, plans to host the coveted football tournament in India are back on track.

Meanwhile as a consequence of the termination of the CoA, the AIFF elections will now be held on September 2 with Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia and former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey set to have a straight fight for the post of AIFF president.