India risks FIFA suspension over delayed reforms, again!

NEW DELHI: India is once again facing the prospect of a global football suspension, with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) warning the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that it must adopt a new constitution by October 30. Failing to do so would result in sanctions.

In a strongly worded joint letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, the two governing bodies expressed “profound concern” over the ongoing delay in finalising the AIFF’s constitution, which has been pending with India’s Supreme Court since 2017.

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If the deadline is not met, the matter will be referred to FIFA’s decision-making body for appropriate action, the letter warned. FIFA and AFC stressed that the AIFF must treat the message as “binding” and act immediately to preserve its membership status.

A suspension would result in India’s national teams and club sides being banned from all international competitions, a devastating blow to the country’s football ambitions.

This would mark the second time in just three years that India has faced such a penalty. In August 2022, FIFA briefly suspended the AIFF over third-party interference, after the Supreme Court appointed a temporary committee to run the organisation. The ban was lifted days later following elections that brought Chaubey into office.

Meanwhile, India’s domestic football scene is also in turmoil. The Indian Super League (ISL) is under threat due to an unresolved dispute between the AIFF and its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). With the season’s start already delayed, thousands of players, coaches, and support staff face job uncertainty.

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The broadcasting and commercial rights deal between AIFF and FSDL is set to expire on December 8 and has not been renewed. With no revival plan in place, the ISL’s future remains uncertain, casting further doubt on the stability of Indian football.

If FIFA follows through with its threat, it would not only isolate India on the international stage but also further destabilise an already fragile domestic football structure.