FIFA Banned India

In News

• Recently, the apex body of the sport, FIFA has suspended the country’s top administrative organisation, the All India Football Federation for undue influence from third parties.

What is Third-party interference? 

• Third-party interference refers to a situation in which a member association of FIFA fails to remain independent, is co-opted, and no longer has control over its organisation.
  • The Committee of Administrators to run the AIFF was a case of third-party interference. 

Events that led to the ban

• Post: The current set of troubles for Indian football began after the erstwhile AIFF president, Praful Patel, who was also a FIFA council member, refused to relinquish his post as the head of football in the country.

Implications

• No international football: The suspension means no international football and this applies to all national teams across all age groups. 
  • It also applies to both men’s and women’s football, and to all club teams in India.
• The suspension also impacts international transfers as well as any courses or developmental programs that AIFF officials could, or were taking part in. 
• Ban on activities outside India: This in effect means a total ban on all football-related activities outside India. 
  • However, the league in the country, as well as domestic transfers, can continue.
• The Gokulam Kerala’s Women’s team which is currently travelling to Qarshi, Uzbekistan for the AFC Women’s Club Championship, may no longer be able to participate in the tournament.
• It also took away the country’s rights to hold the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 which was scheduled to be held from October 11-30.

Way Forward

• FIFA has said that two main concerns need to be addressed in order for the ban to be lifted.
  • The mandate of the COA would have to be repealed in full.
  • The AIFF administration would need to be completely in charge of its day-to-day running once again.
• It wanted the AIFF constitution to be revised on the terms of FIFA and the AFC’s policies, and for the election to be held on current AIFF membership structures that are based on state associations only. 

Source: IE