India was the host for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017. It was all set to open its doors for some of the best footballers in the world for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2020. The event was supposed to begin on 11th October with the final on 30th October. Notably, in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 tournament in India was cancelled and then postponed. However, it has been suspended once again, all thanks to AIFF president Praful Patel.
FIFA suspends Indian football federation
The reports suggest that FIFA suspended the Indian football federation with “immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties”. FIFA, which is the World football’s governing body, called the breach a “serious violation of the FIFA Statutes”.
FIFA said in a statement, “The suspension will remain in place until the All India Football Federation (AIFF) regains full control of its daily affairs.”
The statement further added that “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once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs.”
A timeline of what transpired
Praful Patel completed his three terms or 12 years as AIFF president in December 2020. Mind you, it is the maximum limit permitted to a national sports federation chief. An elections should have taken place for the new president, but the polls weren’t carried out.
Later, on 18th May this year, the apex court appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) to supervise the functioning of the AIFF while dismissing Praful Patel and his executive committee from their position.
On June 11, 2022, a meeting was held between CoA and the members of affiliated units to discuss the elections at AIFF. Then, on June 21, 2022, a 12-member advisory committee was formed to supervise the day-to-day functionalities of AIFF.
On June 23, 2022, the FIFA delegation was assured that the new constitution would be completed by July 31.
On July 18, 2022, it was reported that the state units of AIFF were not happy with some provisions in the final draft of the constitution. Few days later, the Apex court asked the state associations and CoA to file objections to the proposed constitution.
The Supreme Court passed an interim order where it asked the AIFF to hold elections for its executive committee. On the 6th of August, FIFA threatened AIFF to suspend Indian football and snatch its rights to host the Women’s U-17 World Cup in October if the third-party “influence” persists.
On August 13, veteran administrators Subrata Dutta and Larsing Ming’s nominations were rejected on the grounds that both of them have already served as the AIFF executive committee for three terms previously.
Also Read: New AFC rules will kill Indian football
The man behind the disaster
You see, Ranjit Bajaj, chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators, has openly blamed AIFF president Praful Patel for the ban. He informed that the CoA is not responsible for the ban. Yesterday, FIFA, in a meeting with the Union Sports Ministry, said that “these are our demands and if you meet them there will be no ban.”
In one of their demands, they asked that Praful Patel should be reinstated as AIFF president and Subrata Roy should be made the vice-president. Bajaj told that “while CoA agreed to other demands, reinstating Patel is a case of national law. Sports code says one can be at the helm for not more than 12 years.”
Reportedly, Patel has also been accused of corruption and this is all a Praful Patel trick to hold the fort again.
Patel, for his selfish gains, has thrown Indian football under the bus and he must be punished for the offense.
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