FIFA suspends all India Football Federation with immediate effect

With the suspension, India will not be able to host the U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 scheduled to take place in India in October.

FIFA has suspended the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect. The international football governing body said in a statement on Tuesday that it has suspended AIFF due to undue influence from third parties.

“The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation with immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes,” the statement reads.

According to the statement, the AIFF’s suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the executive committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs.

With the suspension the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India on October 11-30, 2022 will not be held in India as planned.

Regarding the tournament, FIFA said that it is assessing the next steps and will refer the matter to the Bureau of the Council if and when necessary.

The suspension also means that FIFA or the Asian Football Confederation will not recognise any domestic games played in India and the Indian national football teams will also be barred from participating in international matches.

“FIFA is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved,” the statement added.