FIFA lifts ban on AIFF: U-17 Women’s World Cup  on course

New Delhi: Football fans heaved a sigh of relief after the Bureau of the FIFA Council decided to lift the suspension on the All-India Football Federation (AIFF).

The decision was taken after FIFA received confirmation that the mandate of the Committee of Administrators that was set up to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee had been terminated and that the AIFF administration had regained full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs, the FIFA said in a release on Friday.

“FIFA and the AFC will continue to monitor the situation and will support the AIFF in organizing its elections promptly,” the release further said.

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

On August 16, FIFA, the apex body of world football, suspended the AIFF with “immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties”, jeopardizing the country’s staging of the U-17 Women’s World Cup in October.

With the Supreme Court on the recommendation of the Indian government deciding to dissolve the Committee of Administrators (CoA) and give back the reins to the old guard, the decks were cleared for FIFA to lift the suspension.

The Acting General Secretary of AIFF, Sunando Dhar, had a few days back requested Fatma Samoura, FIFA Secretary General to “reconsider their decision of suspending the AIFF”.

In a letter to the FIFA Secretary General, Dhar, while providing an update on the litigation before the Supreme Court, said: “It is with immense pleasure that we inform you that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India (the “SC”) took up our matter and vide order dated 22.05.2022 was pleased to pass directions regarding the full repeal of the CoA mandate and consequently the AIFF having full charge of the AIFF’s daily affairs.”

“Given the above, we request the FIFA and especially the Bureau to reconsider their decision of suspending the AIFF. Since the conditions set out in your Letter for the lifting of the suspension stand satisfied, we request that an order to that effect be passed at the earliest for the AIFF to continue with the smooth running of football in India,” the letter further stated.