FIFA suspends AIFF over 'third-party influences'; Supreme Court to hear case tomorrow

The Supreme Court will hear a case relating to the suspension of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) tomorrow..The issue was mentioned before a Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna, who agreed to hear the case tomorrow after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that there was a new development in the case."There is some development. It may not be deleted. Early morning there was a development from Geneva. FIFA has sent a letter, it's in public domain," the SG said..The SG was referring to a press release issued by FIFA stating that it had unanimously decided to suspend the AIFF with immediate effect as a result of which the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup 2022 cannot be held in India."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. 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once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs," the release issued on Tuesday reads..This development follows the filing of a petition by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) appointed by the Supreme Court to run and write the new constitution of the AIFF seeking contempt proceedings against former AIFF President Praful Patel and the office-bearers of seven other state associations.It was stated in the plea that the conduct of Patel and the others had led to communications issued by FIFA threatening to consider withdrawing India's hosting rights for the upcoming Under-17 Women's World Cup.Pertinently, the plea contended that Patel organised a meeting with state associations three days after the top court's order mandating an interim body to oversee AIFF elections, wherein he allegedly reiterated "his active role to push India towards a suspension by hiding the true facts from FIFA and AFC.".The top court had, earlier this month, ordered that the polls for an interim body to head the AIFF be conducted expeditiously in line with the draft constitution in place. This order was passed in a plea filed by the AIFF challenging the Delhi High Court order staying fresh elections of the committee. The petitioners had contended that the current CoA was running illegally.The Court had rejected the appellant's prayer to disallow individual eminent players from voting, and made it clear that players with international experience will be allowed to vote and be part of the executive and general committees.