In News:
- The Supreme Court terminated the mandate of its Committee of Administrators (CoA) to manage the affairs of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
- This was done to overcome suspension of the Indian football body by FIFA.
What’s in Today’s Article:
Background:
- The current set of troubles for Indian football began after the erstwhile AIFF president, Praful Patel, refused to relinquish his post as the head of football in the country.
- Patel had completed his three terms and 12 years as AIFF president in December 2020.
- However, the polls could not take place because of pending cases in the SC regarding the constitution of AIFF.
- On May 18, the Supreme Court intervened, and removed Patel from his post.
- The SC also appointed a Committee of Administrators (COA) to run the AIFF.
- COA comprises of Justice (retired) Anil Dave, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India SY Quraishi, Former India captain Bhaskar Ganguly.
- The appointment of CoA was considered as the third-party interference by the FIFA.
- As a result, on August 16, 2022, FIFA, suspended the All-India Football Federation.
Why FIFA Suspended the AIFF?
- The setting up of this COA is where the contentious relationship with FIFA began, which eventually led to the ban.
- The appointment of CoA is considered third-party interference, which is against FIFA statutes.
- Initially, FIFA believed that the COA would not make any major changes to the AIFF constitution and hence it did not impose the ban immediately.
- It was when the CoA released the first draft of the constitution of AIFF, FIFA got the notion that it is changing the constitution.
- These changes to how the AIFF functioned, without any scope of an executive committee present to ratify or challenge these decisions, were considered as third-party interference by the world governing body of football.
- FIFA had made it clear that it wants an elected body, and not a court-appointed entity like the CoA, to manage AIFF affairs.
News Summary
- The Supreme Court disbanded the CoA to facilitate the revocation of AIFF’s suspension by FIFA and hosting of the prestigious U-17 Women’s Football World Cup in the country in October.
- FIFA is an international governing body of association football, beach football and futsal.
- FIFA stands for Federation Internationale de Football Association in French. It is headquartered at Zürich, Switzerland.
Key Highlights
- Disbanded CoA
- The Supreme Court disbanded the Committee of Administrators (COA).
- It transferred the day-to-day management of the AIFF from the hands of the CoA to the federation’s administration led by its Acting Secretary-General.
- Elections to elect members of executive council (EC) has been postponed
- The bench postponed the August 28 elections by a week to elect a 23-member executive council, of which 17 will be elected by state/UT associations.
- The elected members would co-opt six eminent players, including two women, with voting rights to the EC.
- Order passed to ensure the prestige of the nation
- SC held that it is passing the current order to ensure that the prestige of the nation in holding the Under 17 Women’s World Cup is not affected.
