Football: India face second ban in three years from world football as FIFA cracks whip on AIFF
FIFA and AFC mount pressure on AIFF
Indian football has faced a difficult few years, with the nation being suspended from internationally recognised competitions due to third-party influence after the Supreme Court installed a committee of administrators to run the AIFF.
While the suspension was lifted just a few days later, leading to the election of Kalyan Chaubey as the president of the AIFF, the federation was still instructed to implement a new constitution to govern football activities in India
However, the new constitution has yet to be put in place by the AIFF, and it has now led to FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) sending an official letter to Chaubey, explaining that the failure to implement the agreement creates a “profound concern”. The letter read:
"Failure to meet this schedule will leave us with no alternative but to refer the matter to the relevant FIFA decision-making body for consideration and decision. AIFF must regard this communication as binding and requiring immediate compliance in order to safeguard its rights as a member of FIFA and the AFC.”
This latest blow to Indian football comes at a time when the future of the nation's top tier, the Indian Super League, has been delayed this season owing to a dispute between the AIFF and its chief commercial partner.
Chaubey announced last week that this season’s ISL will go ahead, albeit later than originally expected, following the Super Cup. However, there has been no confirmation of the expected start date for the 2025-26 campaign.
Lionel Messi’s India visit at danger of being called off
Football fans from across India were provided with some huge news last month, when it was confirmed that Lionel Messi and the World Cup champions Argentina would be visiting four cities later this year.
However, given the current situation surrounding India’s potential ban from international competition, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s tour has been put at risk. If the ban is upheld, the tour will be cancelled immediately.
All the attention now turns to the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to deliver what will be a massively important verdict on the ban this Monday, September 1.
