Darkest day for Indian football as FIFA suspends AIFF & strips hosting right of U-17 WC

Kolkata: Dozen of former football stars and million of fans across India on Tuesday woke up to hear a surprising move of the world football governing body's (FIFA) decision to suspend India from playing and host any international event owing to alleged 3rd party intervention into the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The move of FIFA comes at a time when the whole countrymen woke up at day-break after celebrating India's 76th Independence Day on August 15.

" The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties, which
constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes," a FIFA statement said on Tuesday.
India's Supreme court - has set up a three-member COA (Committee of Administrators) to run the show for AIFF until an election body is constituted.

" The elections are to be held on August 28 and the poll process was started on August 13' as the apex court approved the time-line prepared by the CoA. The latest information says the Supreme Court agrees to hear on Wednesday after suspending the AlIFF. FIFA's decision stripped Indiathe right to host the U17 Women's World Cup football to be held between October 11-31 in 2022.

Former India stars like Subrata Bhattacharya and Gautam Sarkar took surprise to FIFA decision to ban India saying this would affect footballing in the country. They opined that the decision was surprising and harsh on a country which is constantly trying to develop football in the 1.3 billion populated nation.

The reaction of the AIFF was still awaited. The AIFF on Monday only covered India;s football extensively on its website roight from the Independence day to current position. It also displayed as many 21 pictures starting from S Mewalal in 1951 to the country;s achievements under Chuni Goswami, PK Banerjee and Sunil Chhetri.

India not only lost the U-17 Women's World Cup hosting rights but the Indian men's or the women's national teams neither of them can play against other national football teams even at the age-group levels. The decision also makes the Indian football clubs ineligible to participate in AFC Women Club

Championship, AFC Cup and AFC Champions League competitions." The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs," the FIFA said in its statement.(UNI)