The world football organization FIFA announced on Monday, August 15 that it will immediately suspend the Indian football organization All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Due to this, all international football activities of India will be adversely affected.
FIFA’s governing body said the decision was taken in view of “serious violations of FIFA rules” due to “unnecessary interference by third parties”.
Due to this action of the international organization, India may lose the hosting of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in October this year.
The tournament was scheduled to be held between October 11 and 30, but due to the latest decision by FIFA, it cannot be held in India.
World football’s governing body is evaluating its next steps regarding the tournament.
FIFA also said that it is still in constant contact with the Indian Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and hopes that a positive outcome can be achieved.
The Supreme Court of India dissolved the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in May.
The court had constituted a three-member committee and asked to conduct the pending elections for 18 months along with amending the constitution of the institution.
In response, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation sent a delegation to India led by AFC General Secretary Windsor John to meet with Indian officials. The international body had given the AIFF a road map to amend its rules by the end of July and complete the elections by September 15.
When the Committee of Administrators, which took over the powers of the FIFA Executive Committee, is abolished, and the AIFF regains full control over day-to-day affairs, FIFA said in a statement. If so, the order of suspension shall be cancelled.
Earlier this month, an Indian court ordered the elections to be held immediately and also said that the select committee would only serve on an interim basis for a period of three months.
According to FIFA rules, member federations must be completely independent from legal and political interference in their respective countries.
FIFA has previously suspended national associations of other countries over similar concerns.