AIFF ban by FIFA: Supreme Court directs Central government to take steps to lift ban, ensure U-17 world cup is held in India

The Supreme Court on Wednesday urged the Central government to take all measures to ensure that the suspension of All India Football Federation (AIFF) by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is lifted and the Under-17 Football World Cup is held in the country as scheduled [All India Football Federation vs Rahul Mehra]..A bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud passed the order after it was informed that the Central government is attempting to break the ice with FIFA. "Solicitor General has informed the court that Government of India is in active engagement with FIFA and stakeholders to ensure Under-17 World Cup in the country as planned. Meeting happened yesterday and discussions are ongoing. We request the Centre to take proactive measures to ensure holding of Under-17 world cup and lift the suspension on AIFF so the objective is duly achieved," the Court said in its order..The Supreme Court was hearing a case relating to the suspension of the AIFF by FIFA.FIFA had issued a press release stating that it had unanimously decided to suspend the AIFF with immediate effect as a result of which the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup 2022 cannot be held in India."The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs," the release issued on Tuesday said. This development came about after the filing of a petition by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) appointed by the Supreme Court to run and write the new constitution of the AIFF seeking contempt proceedings against former AIFF President Praful Patel and the office-bearers of seven other state associations.It was stated in the plea that the conduct of Patel and the others had led to communications issued by FIFA threatening to consider withdrawing India's hosting rights for the upcoming Under-17 Women's World Cup.The top court had then ordered on August 3 that the polls for an interim body to head the AIFF be conducted expeditiously in line with the draft constitution in place. The Court had also rejected the appellant's prayer to disallow individual eminent players from voting, and made it clear that players with international experience will be allowed to vote and be part of the executive and general committees.Interestingly, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, who had appeared for 35 State football associations and other football clubs on August 3, had argued that the draft constitution is against the National Sports Code as individual players cannot vote as an electoral college but can only participate in management. This, she had said, would be against FIFA's norms. "That is FIFA's norms, eminent players cannot vote individually. It is a team sport. Football is a poor, poor cousin of cricket in this country and depends on FIFA. We can't defy them," she had argued..Advocate Abhimanyu Bhandari appeared for Praful Patel..[Follow our coverage of today's hearing]

AIFF ban by FIFA: Supreme Court directs Central government to take steps to lift ban, ensure U-17 world cup is held in India

Debayan Roy

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