Football News: FIFA suspends All India Football Federation over third-party influences

The decision to immediately suspend the All India Football Federation arose because the "FIFA Council decided unanimously to take this step after determining that there was undue influence from third parties in AIFF, which is a violation of its statutes."

FIFA stated that the suspension was effective immediately and that the infraction "constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes."

"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once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF executive committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF's daily affairs," FIFA said in the statement.

India's Under-17 World Cup hosting rights in danger

The 2022 U17 Women's World Cup will be contested in India from 11 October to 30 October. If the ban is not lifted, India will be forced to forfeit its hosting rights.

"FIFA is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved."

The FIFA move comes after the Supreme Court of India ordered the national soccer organisation to hold elections for office bearers under a new constitution by 29 August.

The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India from 11 to 30 October 2022, will not be held as planned.

The tournament's following stages are considered by FIFA, the world's governing body. FIFA stated that it is in continual contact with India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and is hopeful that a satisfactory conclusion may still be achieved.

India's top court dismissed the AIFF in May, and a three-member committee was created to rule the sport, modify the AIFF's constitution, and hold elections that had been delayed for 18 months.

Follow all of today's Football matches on our Live Match Centre