BREAKING: FIFA lifts ban on Indian football, returns hosting rights for U-17 WWC

The bureau arrived at the decision after the Supreme Court repealed the CoA and handed the management of AIFF to the football federation.

A ban from the apex body of world football, FIFA was imposed on India on the 15th of August, 2022. This mainly happened due to third-party interference in the daily affairs of the AIFF. Also, as per FIFA statutes the presence of eminent footballers in the committee is not permitted unless they are co-opted.

The Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to lift the suspension that was imposed on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) due to undue third-party influence. 

The decision was taken after FIFA received confirmation that the mandate of the committee of administrators that was set up to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee had been terminated and that the AIFF administration had regained full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs. FIFA and the AFC will continue to monitor the situation and will support the AIFF in organising its elections in a timely manner. 

As a consequence, the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022™ scheduled to take place on 11-30 October 2022 will be held in India as planned.

Ban lifted on 25th August, 2022

A letter signed by FIFA's General Secretary, Fatma Samoura reached the AIFF this evening. The Bureau was informed that the mandate the Committee of Administrators (CoA) had been terminated and the daily affairs were now in control of the AIFF again. Hence the decision to uplift the ban came from the apex body. The Government of India played an influential part in the process of revoking the FIFA ban.

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Indian football back to normal

As a result, the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup will now be successfully held in the country in October. ATK Mohun Bagan will also be able to participate in the AFC Cup Inter-Zonal semi-finals where they will be facing Kuala Lumpur City FC.

The Indian national team were scheduled to play two friendlies in September, against Singapore and Vietnam on 24th amd 27th of September, respectively. They will now be allowed to take part in the same.

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Gokulam Kerala suffer

The only sufferers of the FIFA ban are the Gokulam Kerala women's team. They were stranded in Uzbekistan when the ban was imposed. They wrote to the PMO for help. Attempts were made to help the Malabarians but it went in vain. The club were training since May for the competition but ultimately were disqualified from the event.

AIFF Acting General Secretary Sunando Dhar reacts

The general secretary also welcomed the decision and thanked FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation for their guidance through the tough period and for lifting the suspension.

“The darkest hour of Indian Football is finally over. The suspension that was slapped on midnight of August 15 on the AIFF, has been lifted by FIFA," said Dhar. "We sincerely thank FIFA and AFC, especially the AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John for guiding us in such difficult times.

"We also take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Hon'ble Sports Minister Shri Anurag Thakur ji for solidly standing by us at this crucial juncture.”