India is once again facing the threat of a global football ban, less than three years after FIFA last suspended the country.
The warning comes after FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation jointly insisted that the All India Football Federation adopt a new constitution by October 30 or risk suspension.
In a letter addressed to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, the two bodies voiced “profound concern” over the federation’s prolonged delay in finalising and approving its constitution.
“Failure to meet this schedule will leave us with no alternative but to refer the matter to the relevant FIFA decision-making body for consideration and decision,” the letter stated, according to AFP.
“AIFF must regard this communication as binding and requiring immediate compliance in order to safeguard its rights as a member of FIFA and the AFC,” it added.
The AIFF’s proposed constitution has been awaiting a verdict in India’s Supreme Court since 2017. Should a suspension be enforced, all Indian clubs and national teams would be barred from international competition.
This would not be the first time. In August 2022, FIFA briefly suspended India citing third-party interference after the Supreme Court installed a committee of administrators to oversee AIFF affairs.
The ban was lifted within days, allowing Chaubey to eventually take charge as president.
Beyond the constitutional crisis, Indian football is grappling with deepening turmoil at the domestic level. The Indian Super League, the country’s top-flight competition, is on the brink of collapse due to a dispute between AIFF and its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited.
The league’s current season has already been postponed, putting thousands of players and staff at risk of unemployment.
The rights agreement between AIFF and FSDL is set to expire on December 8, with no renewal in sight.
Meanwhile, AIFF has failed to provide a concrete revival strategy for the ISL, which normally runs from September to April.
The uncertainty prompted FIFPRO Asia/Oceania, the international players’ union, to flag the matter directly with FIFA last week.