India’s football federation has been suspended by FIFA with immediate effect. This was announced by the world football governing body on Monday.
The reason for the drastic step of suspending the Indian Football Federation is the undue influence of third parties, which according to the world governing body is a serious violation of FIFA’s statutes.
India’s top court had dissolved the Indian Football Federation (AIFF) in May. A three-member committee is now said to be in charge of amending the AIFF’s constitution and organising elections.
FIFA said that the suspension would only be lifted once the court order setting up the new committee had been revoked “and the AIFF administration is once again in full charge of the AIFF”.
Due to the suspension, the U-17 Women’s World Cup (11-30 October) cannot be held in India, it added. However, they were “in constant communication with the Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports” and believed in a positive outcome.