NEW DELHI: The joint FIFA/AFC mission, which concluded its India visit Thursday, 23rd June, has set the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators currently running the All India Football Federation a deadline of July 31 to amend the statutes of AIFF constitution and conclude elections by September 15.
In case the CoA fails to fulfill these two deadlines, FIFA has threatened to ban India from international competitions, Delhi Football’s chief executive officer Shaji Prabhakaran tweeted.
Football's continental and world governing bodies' intent was made clear Thursday wherein it was stated: "FIFA and the AFC will continue to monitor the situation in Indian football closely and will provide all support that the AIFF requires to bring itself in line with both the FIFA and AFC Statutes."
“Fifa wants enough time for the new office-bearers to prepare for the U-17 Women’s World Cup. The September 15 deadline, the team thinks, will allow the elected office-bearers to take charge by September 20,” Telegraph India quotes a source close to the developments as having said.
Earlier in the day, the member-associations passed a resolution to call a special general body meeting within seven days of approval by the Supreme Court where the new constitution will have to be approved.
The state associations also unanimously resolved to rubber stamp the appointment made by the CoA of Sunando Dhar as acting general secretary of the federation.
FIFA/AFC statement in full:
A joint FIFA/AFC mission has concluded a three-day visit to India where it held constructive discussions with local stakeholders regarding the situation at the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The meetings concluded that the next steps should be the ratification of the AIFF Statutes in line with FIFA/AFC principles of good governance and the holding of an electoral congress to choose the next AIFF leadership. This would be based on a timeline agreed by AIFF stakeholders.
The mission was led by AFC general secretary Windsor John and included AFC deputy general secretary Vahid Kardany, FIFA chief Member Associations officer Kenny Jean-Marie and FIFA director of Strategic Projects and Member Association Governance Nodar Akhalkatsi.
The delegation met with FIFA Council member (and former AIFF president) Praful Patel, the Honourable Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur, representatives of the AIFF general secretariat, members of the AIFF Congress, I-League clubs, ISL clubs, representatives of Football Sports Development Limited (AIFF's commercial partners) and the administrators appointed by the Supreme Court of India (CoA).
FIFA and the AFC will continue to monitor the situation in Indian football closely and will provide all support that the AIFF requires to bring itself in line with both the FIFA and AFC Statutes.
Highlights
*Recommendations include ratification of AIFF Statutes in line with FIFA/AFC good governance principles
*FIFA and AFC will continue to monitor the situation closely
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