Football News: How will the FIFA ban on India affect Indian football?

The Supreme Court intervened early in 2022 and assembled a Committee of Administrators (CoA) to monitor daily affairs instead of AIFF president Praful Patel. 

On August 16, FIFA decided to suspend the AIFF because of "undue influence from third parties." FIFA also stated that they're in touch with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and are hopeful of matters returning to normalcy.

The decision has shaken the foundation of Indian football, and things might get worse if the suspension is not lifted. The Indian men's and women's national teams will be exempted from partaking in international tournaments or matches as long as the ban is intact. 

India will no longer have the hosting rights of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. 

Will the FIFA ban affect the club football structure in India?

The suspension will not directly impact the functioning of the club football structure in the country. However, the international governing body will not recognise all the current Indian leagues that characterise Indian football due to FIFA's decision.

So the Indian clubs will not compete in continental tournaments, the AFC Women's Club Championship, AFC Cup and AFC Champions League.

Will the Indian Super League clubs be affected?

The league will not have their AFC Cup and AFC Champions League spots from the upcoming season, so ATK Mohun Bagan's AFC Cup run might end prematurely.

They had reigned at the top of the group in the continental tournament and qualified for the knockout phase. In addition, Indian clubs will not be allowed to register foreign players as long as the ban is in motion.

What about Gokulam Kerala FC's AFC Women's Club Championship prospects?

As the ban has been actualised, Gokulam Kerala FC will not participate in the AFC Women's Club Championship matches. After an impressive Indian Women's League outing, the Malabarians entered the continental competition.

However, the Asian Football Confederation has reportedly addressed a letter to the AIFF stating that Gokulam Kerala is no longer eligible to compete in the AFC Women's Club Championship. 

Supreme Court directs Centre to take 'proactive steps' to lift FIFA ban, host U-17 WWC

On August 17, a day after the ban was imposed, the Supreme Court asked the central government to take active steps to ensure the ban was lifted. The court is determined to bring back India's hosting rights for the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup.

An assembly consisting of DY Chandrachud, AS Bopanna and JB Pardiwala passed the order on a word by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta about the government holding meetings with FIFA to pull the country out of the ban.

In an order arriving late at night on August 15, FIFA suspended India and released a statement where they said, "The U-17 Women's World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned" due to the suspension.

The matter was called upon for an urgent hearing in the Supreme Court on August 17, 2022. The apex court will be dealing with the matter on August 22 now.