FIFA Sets Deadline for AIFF to Resolve Governance Issues or Face Suspension
FIFA's Ultimatum to AIFF
FIFA has issued a warning to the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF), giving them until October 30 to rectify their governance issues or risk suspension. This notice, sent on Tuesday, was co-signed by Elkhan Mammadov, FIFA’s chief member associations officer, and Vahid Kardany, the AFC’s deputy general secretary for member associations.
The AIFF is required to obtain a definitive ruling regarding the approval of its new constitution, ensure adherence to FIFA and AFC statutes, and have these changes ratified in their upcoming general body meeting.
Additionally, the letter emphasized AIFF's responsibility to manage its operations independently, free from any undue influence from external parties, including governmental entities.
The correspondence warned that non-compliance could lead to sanctions as per FIFA and AFC regulations, including the potential for suspension. It also noted that a member association could face repercussions for third-party interference, even if they are not directly responsible.
Should AIFF be suspended, it would lose all rights associated with its membership in FIFA and AFC, as outlined in their statutes.
The AIFF president, Kalyan Chaubey, was not available for comment regarding this matter.
‘Governance Crisis’
The revised AIFF constitution has been under judicial review since 2017, and despite numerous promises, it has yet to be approved.
The FIFA letter highlighted that the lack of a clear and compliant governance structure has led to a significant vacuum and legal ambiguities within Indian football. This ongoing stalemate has triggered a governance and operational crisis, leaving clubs and players uncertain about the domestic competition schedule, and commercial agreements beyond December 2025 remain unconfirmed.
The letter further stated that the lack of financial stability has severely impacted India's football ecosystem, particularly affecting players associated with clubs in the Indian Super League (ISL), which operates under AIFF's jurisdiction. Reports from FIFPRO indicate that several clubs have unilaterally terminated players' contracts due to the ongoing crisis, jeopardizing their livelihoods and careers.