Why FIFA has banned India football

Indian football went back decades due to the ban by FIFA. Now even if FIFA lifts India’s membership ban, India will have to start from zero in the points table. Will Sunil Chhetri return to international football?

Sorry to share that the world football governing body Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has banned India from all types of international football for an indefinite period. All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been banned due to allegations of third party influence in football activities.

FIFA announced the ban in an official statement to the Indian Football Association in the early hours of Tuesday, August 15, 2022. The Bureau of FIFA Council has unanimously decided to ban the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the organization said in a statement. Because the undue influence of a third party on this organization is a clear violation of the FIFA Charter.

As a result of this ban, the Under-17 Women’s World Cup to be held in India next October has also been postponed. FIFA said that the future of this tournament will be decided soon.

In the statement, FIFA also clarified the way out of this ban, an administrative committee must be formed to take full control of the day-to-day operations of the AIFF. All the powers of the present Executive Committee of AIFF shall be given to that Administrative Committee.

Various media in India have reported that the organization is being managed by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) formed on the orders of the Supreme Court of India after the removal of former AIFF President Praful Patel. The Supreme Court also directed the AIFF to elect a national federation. However, FIFA did not take the court’s ruling on the Football Federation lightly. World football’s highest court regards the whistleblowing as a clear breach of its charter. So, it can be said that FIFA banned Indian football from the international arena due to court intervention.

What will the court or the Indian government decide now to save the country’s football? FIFA proved that the courts of any country cannot be right all the time.

It is surprising to think that a player like Sunil Chhetri will not be seen in international football for long; Sunil Chhetri may not be able to return to international football as he is too old. Sunil Chhetri is one of the best footballers ever in international football. I will really miss him if he will not be able to play due to the ban.

In early August 2022, FIFA issued a strong warning letter to AIFF. However, due to not being able to take effective action, Indian football had to be banned. Indian football went back decades due to the ban by FIFA. Now even if FIFA lifts India’s membership ban, India will have to start from zero in the points table.