Supreme Court hearing on FIFA AIFF ban: Control returns to Federation in hopes of hosting Women’s U17 World Cup
The Supreme Court has returned the rights of daily operations to the All India Football Confederation in the hope that FIFA will lift the ban on AIFF so that India can host the 2022 Women’s U17 World Cup.
It revised previous orders on having a Committee of Administrators and extended the date for AIFF elections by one week.
AS IT HAPPENED | Supreme Court Hearing in FIFA Case Highlights
“If you feel the 28th (August) is too short, then we will postpone it. The tournament is our priority now, it will come to India,” the top court said on Monday.
After the hearing, the court reached the following conclusion (according to Sportsstar legal reporter Krishnadas Rajagopal):
-
The AIFF electoral program has been revised. Election day has been extended by a week. -
Voter lists will include member associations of states and union territories (35+1 associations) -
Returning officers will be appointed by the apex court. -
The day-to-day management of the AIFF will be reviewed by the AIFF administration led exclusively by the Acting Secretary-General. This therefore means the end of the mandate of the Committee of Administrators (CoA). CoA attorney, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, will continue as curator of the apex court. -
The CoA has submitted the AIFF’s Draft Constitution. -
The Return Officer will accept nominations for elections. -
For the purposes of the next election, the AIFF Executive Committee will consist of 23 people (17 people – including the President, Vice President and Treasurer – will be elected by representatives of the 36 member associations from the States. /UTs), 6 members will be drawn from eminent players.
The Supreme Court also noted that preliminary results of the AIFF forensic examination have been released.
ALSO READ | Bhaichung Bhutia moves Supreme Court, opposes central position on accepting FIFA terms for AIFF elections
A final report is due. Mr. Sankaranarayanan suggested bringing it to court when the final report was ready. The court said that at a future date it will also accept a contempt complaint filed by former AIFF president Praful Patel and several others for “indirectly” obstructing the SC’s order.
The forensic audit report will be produced soon.