Supreme Court of India advocates push towards taking football forward

The apex court believes that the sport is popular in the country and that one needs to take steps in order to take it forward.

The Supreme Court of India has stated that football has huge popularity in India and the country needs to take it forward by developing it through steps such as drafting a solid constitution for the All India Football Federation (AIFF). On Wednesday, the honourable court called upon responsible parties to send suggestions for the draft constitution for the governing body for football.

The bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud along with justices Hima Kohli and JB Pardiwala believes that "we are doing anything except football" after receiving objections to the draft constitution of the All India Football Federation.

Also Read:

Football lagging behind Cricket and Hockey

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud observed that national sports like hockey and cricket are ahead in terms of progress. He said in the order that, “Unlike hockey and cricket which really, in a sense, are the national sports, football is a popular sport which we all have played. But you know it has not reached that level or the parameter. So, we all have to take it forward. Now, please start the process of finalising the constitution of the AIFF... so that responsible people come in this sport."

The order also suggested that responsible parties send in their suggestions for the draft constitution to the amicus curiae. “Amicus curiae (senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan) is requested to tabulate the objections so that the constitution can be finalised,” the order said.

On August 16, FIFA suspended India for "undue influence from third parties" after which the Supreme Court of India had to intervene to get the ban lifted on AIFF which prevented the country from hosting the 2022 U17 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta proposed the finalisation of AIFF’s constitution and also wished the honourable court to direct forensic audit reports. As it stands, the forensic audit reports are with amicus curiae who said that the firm doing the forensic audit of AIFF put forth contents that are of personal nature. Responding to this, DY Chandrachud suggested that more deliberation will be done on this aspect before sharing it with the public.