SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Central government to proactively engage with the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)- football's world governing body-to ensure that the suspension of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is lifted and the country gets to host the Under-17 Women's Football World Cup scheduled in October. In short, its message to the government is clear. Stop the shame!
As Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought adjournment of the hearing telling the court that the government was talking to FIFA to resolve the issue and there was some breaking of ice. A Bench of Justices, D Y Chandrachud, A S Bopanna and J B Pardiwala promptly adjourned the matter, posting it for hearing the next Monday as requested by Mehta.
Adjourning the matter, the court in its order said, "The Solicitor General has informed the court that the Government of India is in active engagement with FIFA and stakeholders to ensure the Under-17 World Cup in the country as planned. The meeting happened on Tuesday and discussions are ongoing. We request the Centre to take proactive measures to ensure holding of the Under-17 World Cup and lift the suspension on AIFF, so the objective is duly achieved."
Solicitor General Mehta informed the top court: "Tuesday itself the government took it up as an issue. We had two meetings with FIFA. We have reached a stage. I must also say that the Committee of Administrators (COA) has played a very constructive role. There is some breaking of the ice which has taken place. I am requesting if this (matter relating to AIFF) can be kept on Monday."
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, on whose petition the issue of the alleged mismanagement of the national football body came to the fore, however, told the court that the entire events have been orchestrated by the former AIFF president Praful Patel, who was ousted after the top court's orders.
On Tuesday (August 17), the Central government approached the top court seeking an urgent hearing of the matter pending before it in the wake of FIFA suspending AIFF and stripping India from hosting the U-17 Women's World Cup.
FIFA-soccer's world governing body - on Tuesday announced that it has decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect and the decision was taken unanimously by the Bureau of the FIFA Council. The decision, FIFA said, has been taken due to "undue influence from third parties", which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA statute.
In a press statement, FIFA said that the suspension will be revoked once the order appointing the Committee of Administrators (COA) to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee is repealed.
FIFA was reportedly concerned by a CoA appointed by the Supreme Court to oversee the functioning of AIFF till a democratically elected executive committee is put in place.
The top court on May 18, 2022, appointed a three-member CoA to manage the affairs of the AIFF. Headed by former top court judge Justice AR Dave, the CoA has former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi and a former captain of Indian football team Bhaskar Ganguly as two other members.
In the wake of the top court order appointing COA, AIFF president and NCP leader Praful Patel and the Executive Committee stepped down. CoA was appointed after the failure of the ousted committee to hold AIFF elections that were due in December 2020. Patel's third term in office ended in December 2020. As per rule, 12 years is the maximum tenure permitted to a national Sports Federation Chief under the Sports Code.
The top court had directed the COA on August 3 to elect the AIFF Executive Committee and finalise the constitution for AIFF in conformity with the National Sports Code. The top court also directed the Executive Committee of the AIFF to expeditiously hold elections as per the schedule proposed by the CoA, which is currently running the affairs of the national federation.
