FIFA-AIFF

In India, till a few years back most sports associations in India were controlled by politicians, who used to hold the post of chairman/president or secretary of a particular sports association for many many years and even decades, and this resulted in the lowering of standards of sports persons. A few years back Supreme Court intervened, and it was decided no person can hold any post in any sports association for more than three terms, and not more than two consecutive terms in any post. Actually, all this started when there was a betting scandal in IPL cricket matches a few years back.

There is news today that the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) has been suspended by the Federation of Internationale Football Association (FIFA) for “undue interference by the third party”. This is because since 18^th May 2022 AIFF is run by a three-member committee of administration (COA), and as per FIFA COA is not an elected body, and as per their rules it can not run the AIFF.

Why did all this happen, and how did Indian football face ultimate embarrassment?

It all started when controversial former AIIF president Praful Patel( member of political party NCP and former Union Minister), whose third term ended in December 2020, stayed in office citing a pending case, which was pending since 2017. This reason allowed him to extend his term while refusing to hold the election till the issue of the new constitution was settled by SC. In the early part of this year, some officials from the state units approached SC to intervene. This is how the matter with the involvement of SC moved further:

• 18^th May-SC verdict forces AIFF chief Praful Patel and his executive committee to step down. SC appoints a three-member COA headed by former SC judge AR Dave, former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi, and ex-Indian football team captain Bhaskar Ganguly.
• 23^rd May- Praful Patel requests FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to not impose a ban on the country after AIFF was placed under COA.
• 29^th May- The COA chief said a newly-elected body of AIFF should be in place by end of September and a modified constitution will be submitted to SC by 15^th
• 11^th June- The COA and members of some affiliated units meet to discuss the way forward on holding the long pending elections under the new constitution adhering to the national sports code, FIFA, and Asian Football Committee (AFC) statutes.
• 21^st to 23^rd June- First round of talks between the visiting FIFA-AFC team and COA running the affairs of Indian football goes off well. The FIFA team was also informed that the SC intervention in the AIFF was out of necessity. The visiting team sets deadlines to clean up the mess, asks the stakeholders to get the constitution approved by 31^st July, and conducts an election by 15th September 
• 13^th to 16^th July- The COA sends the final draft constitution to AOIFF and FIFA. The same is submitted to SC for its approval.
• 18^th July- the problem started when state units expressed unhappiness over several provisions in the final draft constitution prepared by the COA, but say willing to find the middle ground. The state association panel, had written to the FIFA that several clauses of the final draft are discriminatory and illogical.
• 21^st July SC endorses the need to expedite the elections to AIFF.
• 26^th July- FIFA recommends AIFF have to have 25% eminent player representation in its Executive Committee as co-opted members instead of %0% stipulated in draft constitution.
• 28^th July- A two judge SC bench say it will hear the modalities for holding election on 3^rd
• 3^rd August- SC direct AIFF executive committee to expeditiously hold elections as per the scheduled prepared by the COA. The SC said that the Electoral College for the executive committee of AIFf would have representatives from 36 state associations and 36 representatives of eminent football players.
• 5^th August-SC approves the date of elections, which is to be held on 28^th August, and the poll process will start on 13^th
• 6^th August- FIFA threatens to suspend the AIFF and strips of its right to host the women’s U-17 World Cup in October due to a 3^rd party influence.
• 7^th August- The COA assures FIFA that it is one course to set the AIFF.
• 11^th August-The SC warns the state units of ‘exercising its authority” if ousted AIFF chief Praful Patel attends its meetings and interferes with administration of justice.
• 13^th August-AIFF includes 36 eminent players including Bhaichung Bhutia and IM Vijayan, in the list of voters comprising the electoral college for the general body’s election on 28^th
• 15^th August-FIFA informs the Sports Ministry that it remains firm in its opposition to individual members’ inclusion in the electoral college for AIFF’s election.
• 15^th August- FIFA suspends AIFF due to “ undue influence from third parties”, and says U-17 Women’s World Cup can not be held in India in the present circumstances.

The SC is going to hear today a review petition filed by the Centre.

Now what is FIFA demanding?

• Repeal of COA mandate in full.
• AIFF administration to be fully in charge of its daily affairs.
• The AIFF constitution to be revised in accordance with the requirements of FIFA-AFC and to be approved by AIFF general assembly without interference of third party.
• Hold elections based on the pre-existing membership structure of AIFF (ie state associations only).

It looks like there is going to be tussle between SC and FIFA, and where it will end no body knows. It looks like FIFA does not like AIFF run as per the constitution drafted by COA and approved by SC. It only means that foreign sports bodies are going to tell us how to run our sports association.

Nothing would have happened if the adamant Praful Patel had stepped down earlier, and AIFF elections held as per the requirement. But these politicians think they are above law and every thing has to happen as per their discretion.

Let us wait and watch for the next development in this matter.

Waiting for your views on this blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

17^th August 2022.