India warned by Fifa of looming ban, loss of women’s Under-17 World Cup

World governing body and Asian Football Confederation write to All India Football Federation, citing ‘deviations’ from agreed road map about governance

Road map said Indian body should amend statutes by end of July and hold elections by September 15, with potential sanctions including loss of hosting rights

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Fifa had previously told the Indian FA to hold elections by September. Photo: dpa

Published: 9:00am, 8 Aug 2022

Fifa has reminded India’s football association that it risks losing the upcoming Under-17 Women’s World Cup and faces a ban because of “deviations” from an agreed road map aimed at sorting out governance issues.

India’s highest court disbanded the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in May and appointed a three-member committee to govern the sport, amend the AIFF’s constitution and conduct elections that have been pending for 18 months.

In response, the world governing body and the Asian Football Confederation sent a team led by Windsor John, the AFC general secretary, to meet stakeholders in Indian football and laid down a road map for the AIFF to amend its statutes by the end of July and subsequently conclude elections at the latest by September 15.

Any ban could have an impact on India’s participation at next year’s Asia Cup. Igor Stimac’s side won the qualifying tournament they hosted in June, with Hong Kong also reaching the finals for the first time in 54 years.

But just days after that triumph, evidence of the discord within Indian football came to the surface when Stimac threatened to quit if drastic changes were not made to the way the country’s domestic game was run.

Last week, the Indian court ordered elections to be held promptly and said the elected committee would be an interim body for a period of three months.