India faces second potential FIFA ban in three years over constitutional delays
In a joint letter to All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey, FIFA and the AFC expressed "profound concern" over the ongoing failure to finalise and adopt the federation’s constitution.
India faces the prospect of being banned from world football for the second time in three years after FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) demanded that a new constitution be implemented by 30 October or risk suspension.
In a joint letter to All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey, FIFA and the AFC expressed "profound concern" over the ongoing failure to finalise and adopt the federation's constitution.
"Failure to meet this schedule will leave us with no alternative but to refer the matter to the relevant FIFA decision-making body for consideration and decision," stated the letter, seen by AFP.
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"AIFF must regard this communication as binding and requiring immediate compliance in order to safeguard its rights as a member of FIFA and the AFC," it added.
The AIFF constitution has been pending a decision in India's Supreme Court since 2017.
A suspension would result in India's national teams and clubs being barred from all international competitions.
FIFA had previously suspended India in August 2022 due to third-party interference, after the Supreme Court appointed a committee of administrators to oversee the AIFF's affairs. That ban was lifted just days later, allowing the federation to hold elections that led to Chaubey's appointment.
Meanwhile, India's top-tier club football is in turmoil.
The Indian Super League (ISL) faces the threat of collapse amid a dispute between the AIFF and its commercial partner.
The start of this season's ISL has already been delayed, putting thousands of players and staff at risk of losing their jobs.
A rights agreement between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited, the company that operates the ISL, is due to expire on 8 December and has not yet been renewed.
The AIFF has so far failed to present a viable revival plan for the ISL, which typically runs from September to April.
The Asia/Oceania division of players' union FIFPRO raised concerns with FIFA about the situation last week.
