New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Center to lift the suspension of world football governing body FIFA’s All India Football Federation (AIFF) and play a “proactive” role in facilitating the organization of the Under-17 Women’s World. Cup in India.
The apex court’s order came after the Center said all efforts were being made to “break some ice” for holding the U-17 Women’s World Cup in India in October this year, a day after FIFA suspended India. Huh. for “undue influence from third parties” and stripped the country of its right to host the event.
It was the first time that AIFF was banned by FIFA in its 85-year history.
The apex court deferred hearing on a matter related to AIFF till August 22 as the Center said it is in discussion with the International Football Federation (FIFA) on holding the women’s tournament from October 11-30.
“We would encourage the Union of India to play an active role in the matter so as to facilitate the conduct of the Under-17 World Cup and the removal of the suspension of the AIFF,” a bench of Justice DY Chandrachud said. AS Bopanna, and JB Paridwala said.
Initially, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, informed the bench that the government and the Committee of Administrators (CoA) have held two meetings with FIFA officials on Tuesday and discussions are on with the meeting scheduled for the meeting. Wednesday.
He requested that the matter be deferred till August 22 so that a consensus can be reached among the active stakeholders of AIFF.
Mehta said that the CoA has played a very constructive role during the entire process and urged that a few words from the court to all the stakeholders would help in their endeavor to resolve the situation.
“Yesterday, after the development, which the judges may also know, we took up the matter with FIFA. We had two meetings with FIFA and we have reached a stage where we can say There are efforts being made to break some ice. Therefore, I request that the matter be adjourned for hearing till next Monday”, said Mehta.
The bench said that the World Cup is a great international event for children below the age of 17 years and it is only related to the fact that it is held in the country.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, who is the original petitioner before the Delhi High Court, alleged that the entire episode was hatched by former AIFF president Praful Patel, who was ousted following the apex court’s order in May this year.
“After the order of the Supreme Court, some AIFF members had to step down and the CoA took over. These deposed members are plotting all this. The former AIFF president Praful Patel is behind this.”
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for one of the intervenors, submitted that there has been interference from an international body like in the BCCI management case in 2017 and the court had to pass some strict orders.
Mehta said that he is only representing the Government of India and is concerned about the prestige of the country. “All I can say is that only active stakeholders are being consulted and no one else and the court may come down heavily on those who intervene,” he said.
The bench then said it would not tolerate if someone from outside was trying to interfere in the process.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the CoA, submitted that the immediate effect of FIFA’s action is that a Kerala football club, which had landed in Uzbekistan yesterday for the Women’s Club Championship, suffered losses due to the cancellation of the match and their fate uncertain. made up.
He also mentioned the cancellation of Mohun Bagan Football Club and their future remains uncertain.
India was banned after Praful Patel was removed from the post of AIFF President by the Supreme Court on May 18 for not holding elections in December 2020.
The court had appointed a three-member CoA, headed by former apex court judge AR Dave, to manage the affairs of the national federation.
The CoA, which has former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi and former India captain Bhaskar Ganguly as other members, was also to frame the federation’s constitution in line with the National Sports Code and model guidelines.
On 10 August, the top court warned state football associations that it did not appreciate their “backdoor methods” to defeat court orders and that it was their decision to hold the 2022 FIFA-U-17 Women’s World Cup. is above. India.
The Center had earlier moved the apex court seeking amendments to its August 3 order relating to the election of the AIFF executive committee and the inclusion of former players in the Electoral College, which held that FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ) has “strong reservation in members”. Structure of the AIFF”.
On August 3, the apex court directed to expedite the elections to the AIFF executive committee as per the schedule proposed by the CoA and said that the electoral college for the executive committee would consist of representatives of 36 state associations and 36 representatives of eminent football players.
