Centre seeks SC’s urgent hearing on Wednesday after FIFA suspends AIFF

• Image Credit: Internet

• Aug 16, 2022 | Dhupali Das

The nation is slated to host the FIFA tournament from October 11 to 30...

Digital Desk: In the wake of FIFA suspending India for "undue influence from third parties" and depriving the nation of the privilege to host the Under-17 Women's World Cup, the Centre on Tuesday requested an immediate hearing in the Supreme Court on the All India Football Federation matter. The nation is slated to host the FIFA tournament from October 11 to 30.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, standing for the Centre, informed a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna that a "significant development" had occurred and FIFA had sent a letter suspending India, which was in the public domain and needed to be recorded.

Mehta was informed by the bench that the matter is scheduled for Wednesday and that it will attempt to be heard as the first matter. Mehta stated that FIFA was in Geneva and that it had made a number of decisions that were to be presented to the court as significant developments for the nation. "I ask that the AIFF matter currently before the court be heard quickly," he said. 

FIFA suspended India on Tuesday for "undue influence from third parties" and stripped the country of the right to host the Under-17 Women's World Cup in October.

In its 85-year history, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has never been banned by FIFA. A ban on India was considered after the Supreme Court ousted Praful Patel as AIFF president on May 18 for failing to convene elections expected in December 2020.

A three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA), led by former judge AR Dave of the Supreme Court, has been appointed by the court to oversee the activities of the national federation. The CoA, which also includes former India captain Bhaskar Ganguly and Chief Commissioner of India SY Quraishi, has to draught its constitution in accordance with model rules and the National Sports Code.