India was on Tuesday suspended by world football governing body FIFA thus stripping the country of the opportunity to host the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled for October, this year.
This is the first time the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been banned by FIFA in its 85-year history.
“The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect…,” FIFA said in a statement.
On 18 May, the Indian Supreme Court had ousted Praful Patel as AIFF president for not holding elections due in December 2020 and appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA), headed by former top court judge A.R. Dave, to manage the affairs of the AIFF.
“The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned. FIFA is assessing the next steps with regard to the tournament and will refer the matter to the Bureau of the Council if and when necessary,” it read.
On 5 August, FIFA had threatened to suspend the AIFF and strip of its right to host the women’s U-17 World Cup, days after the Supreme Court’s directive to hold elections of the national federation, reads the report.
