Guwahati: The Supreme Court will hear arguments about FIFA’s decision to immediately ban the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday.
This comes after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta took up the matter before the apex court about the recent developments and asked to hear the issue tomorrow.
A bench presided over by Justice DY Chandrachud will hear the case on Wednesday.
Earlier today, the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) has been suspended by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) with immediate effect due to “undue influence” from outside parties, which is a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes and is a big setback for football fans.
“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,” FIFA said in an official statement.
“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once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs,” the statement added.
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, which was slated to take place in India on October 30, 2022, has been cancelled as a result of the suspension.
A Committee of Administrators (CoA) is currently in charge of the AIFF, which is currently in turmoil as a result of its former leader Praful Patel serving past the expiration of his term without new elections, which the Supreme Court deemed illegal.
FIFA had also informed the organisers on July 21, 2022, that the tournament’s opening ceremony should be held under the democratically elected AFIF.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal is reportedly planning to run in the AIFF elections later this month.
There is no official confirmation that Sonowal addressed the Assam Football Association about a potential nomination for the AIFF polls.
Before becoming the chief minister of Assam in 2016, Sonowal held the position of Union sports minister for two years beginning in May 2014.
He was also the Assam Olympic Association’s president.
The CoA was given permission by the top court earlier this month to choose the returning officer for the AIFF Executive Committee elections on August 28.
According to the court’s ruling, the returning officer will compile a final list of voters that includes 24 men and 12 women, as well as representatives from 36 state associations and prominent football players.
The same election’s nomination papers can be submitted from August 17 to August 19, and the results will be announced on August 28 and 29.
Additionally, there are rumours that certain former athletes are supporting former captain Bhaichung Bhutia for the position of AIFF president.