all India Member units of the Federation of Football (AIFF) on Wednesday met the visiting FIFA-AFC team and informed them that the Supreme Court’s intervention in the national sporting body was “out of necessity”.
Last month, the SC ousted the Praful Patel-led government in the AIFF and appointed a three-member committee of administrators (CoA) to frame a new constitution and conduct elections for new office bearers, apart from day-to-day national The affairs of the day of the federation.
Since then, there has been speculation about a possible FIFA ban on India for third party interference in the affairs of the AIFF. However, the apprehensions were largely dispelled by the visit of the FIFA-AFC delegation.
On the second day of its tour, the team held discussions with a seven-member committee of state associations.
“It was a very positive and constructive meeting. We explained to the visiting team how the Supreme Court came after the old government (under Patel) did not hold elections even after its tenure was over.
“There was confusion all around (due to not holding elections) and it was affecting Indian football. It was not good for the sport in the country. Therefore, it was explained to the FIFA-AFC team that the intervention of the SC was not necessary. There was no other way,” said the source.
It is understood that FIFA wants the transition period of the national federation to be as short as possible.
“FIFA is likely to set a date before which the AIFF elections are to be held so that the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World The Cup in India is organized by a new set of office bearers.
“The visiting team wants the transition period under the CoA to be as short as possible. That’s the spirit the state associations got from the FIFA-AFC team.”
The FIFA-AFC team held the first round of talks with the CoA members on Tuesday, which sources said “went well” and the world body is unlikely to impose a ban on the country.
However, nothing is official yet and the final picture on what FIFA can do or recommend can only come after the second round of talks, which will take place on Thursday of visiting officials with the COA members.
One of the key findings of Tuesday’s meeting was that the AIFF elections should be held before the end of September.
It turns out that there are still some 7-8 “points of disagreement”, which will require the two sides to sit together again and settle them.
It is also understood that the CoA can be flexible on these “points of disagreement” and the committee is ready to “work around them” to find an amicable solution for the betterment of all stakeholders.
The seven-member visiting team, led by Asian Football Confederation General Secretary Windsor John, also met ousted AIFF chief Patel, who is a member of the powerful FIFA Council, on Tuesday.
The visiting team will also meet the officials of ISL organizers FSDL, besides representatives of Indian Super League and I-League clubs on Thursday.
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