Supreme Court sets final hearing date for AIFF’s New Constitution

Supreme Court had removed AIFF President Praful Patel and his executive committee back in May 2022.

The Supreme Court of India has set a final date for the crucial hearing concerning the All India Football Federation (AIFF) constitution, a matter that has dragged on for years.

The issue dates back to May 2022, when the Supreme Court removed then-President Praful Patel and his executive committee from their administrative roles. Patel had failed to conduct the AIFF elections despite completing three four-year terms, making him ineligible for re-election under the National Sports Code.

In response, a bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant, and PS Narasimha appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to oversee AIFF’s daily affairs.

FIFA ban and aftermath

The appointed CoA prepared a draft constitution for the All India Football Federation and submitted it to the Supreme Court for approval on July 15, 2022. However, just a month later, on August 16, 2022, FIFA suspended the AIFF due to undue third-party influence, a direct violation of FIFA Statutes.

Following the Indian government’s intervention, FIFA lifted the suspension on August 27, 2022, allowing AIFF administrators to resume daily operations and conduct fresh elections.

This led to the appointment of Kalyan Chaubey as the new President and Shaji Prabhakaran as the new General Secretary.

Also Read: Is the AIFF Super Cup in jeopardy of being scrapped?

Challenges in finalizing new Constitution

Despite the draft constitution being ready since July 2022, multiple objections from stakeholders—including FIFA—delayed its approval.

In May 2023, the Supreme Court appointed former apex court judge L. Nageswara Rao to oversee the finalization of AIFF’s constitution, considering concerns raised by FIFA, AFC, FSDL, state federations, ISL & I-League clubs, and other stakeholders.

L. Nageswara Rao brought all parties to a consensus through a series of meetings. However, AIFF has since been waiting for the Supreme Court’s approval before formally adopting the new constitution.

Supreme Court sets final hearing date

On February 11, 2025, a Supreme Court bench comprising Hon’ble Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Hon’ble Justice Manoj Misra reviewed the case and issued an order that rekindled hope among Indian football fans.

The Supreme Court order states:

“List this batch of matters for final hearing on 25.03.2025 at 2 PM.”

“We will first hear the issues concerning the finalization of the AIFF constitution.”

“The matter relating to the Indian Olympic Association shall be taken up immediately after the AIFF matter.”

The Indian football community will closely monitor this development, especially as the Supreme Court is expected to address the future of Kalyan Chaubey and the current AIFF executive committee.

With this final hearing now to take place, Indian football stands at a crucial juncture. The finalization of the All India Football Federation’s constitution could set the stage for a more structured and transparent governance model, which is desperately needed to restore stability and credibility to the sport in the country.

For now, Indian football fans must wait and see how the future unfolds.

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