FIFA's AIFF ban: Supreme Court terminates Delhi High Court-appointed CoA, postpones AIFF poll by a week

It said that the executive committee of AIFF will consist of 23 members, including six eminent players of which four will be men and two will be women

The Supreme Court on Monday terminated the mandate of the Committee of Administrator (CoA) appointed by it to manage the affairs of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), saying the day-to-day management of the sports body would be exclusively looked after by the administration led by the Acting Secretary General.

The top court also extended the time for holding the election to AIFF, earlier scheduled on August 28, by one week.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and A S Bopanna ordered that the executive council of AIFF for the ensuing election shall be of 23 members, 17 members would be elected by the electoral college and six members would be drawn from eminent players.

The bench also directed that Returning Officers - Umesh Sinha and Tapas Bhattacharya – would be deemed to be the Returning Officers appointed by this court for the purpose of conducting the elections, as there was no objection to their continuance by any of the contesting parties or

the member associations representing the States/Union Territories.

The bench pointed out that it is passing the order to facilitate revocation of suspension of AIFF by FIFA and holding of the prestigious FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India and also allow participation of Indian players and teams in international events.

It noted on August 15, AIFF received a communication intimating that the Bureau of FIFA Council had on August 14 taken a decision to suspend AIFF from the membership of the world body, FIFA.

During the hearing, the Centre led by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the committee of administrators (CoA), managing affairs of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), must cease to exist. He also proposed that 25 % of the elected executive committee should have eminent players.

Mehta said the result of a suspension for AIFF is disastrous and the country will lose the right to host the World Cup and none of our players can play international football in any part of the world.

He also maintained FIFA has a uniform policy. There are some 18 suspension orders across the world and India is not being singled out, he said.

With regard to a plea by Bhaichung Bhutia, Mehta said the central government is considering a much larger role for him than what he is aiming now, as Bhutia for football is like Sachin Tendulkar for cricket.

Bhutia, the ex-Indian captain, approached the court seeking adoption of the draft AIFF constitution of CoA saying it prioritises and promotes welfare and participation of present and ex- players, over vested interests who are controlling the affairs for many decades.