NEW DELHI, India — India is facing a potential ban from global football for the second time in three years after FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a joint directive demanding that a new constitution be implemented by October 30.
World governing body FIFA and the AFC sent a joint letter to All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey, expressing “profound concern” over the continued failure to finalize and adopt the constitution.
“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,” the letter stated, as seen by Vivid Voice News.
It added, “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.”
The AIFF constitution has been awaiting a decision from India’s Supreme Court since 2017. A suspension would prevent all Indian national teams and clubs from participating in international competitions.
FIFA previously suspended India in August 2022 due to third-party influence after the Supreme Court appointed a committee of administrators to manage the AIFF. The ban was lifted just a few days later, which allowed the AIFF to elect Chaubey.
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Currently, India’s top-flight club football is in a state of disarray. The Indian Super League (ISL) could fold because of a dispute between the AIFF and its commercial partner. The start of this season’s ISL has been delayed, putting thousands of players and staff at risk of losing their jobs.
A rights agreement between the AIFF and the company that runs the ISL, Football Sports Development Limited, is set to expire on December 8 and has not yet been renewed.
The AIFF has been unable to come up with a plan to revive the league, which typically runs from September to April.
The players’ union, FIFPRO Asia/Oceania, raised the issue with FIFA last week.
