FIFA suspends Indian FA over third party influence

India’s football association has been suspended by FIFA because of “undue influence from third parties”.

The suspension means the women’s Under-17’s World Cup, set to begin in the country on 11 October, will not take place as planned.

India’s highest court had disbanded the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in May and appointed a three-member committee to govern the sport.

FIFA’s member federations must be free from legal and political interference.

World governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have met Indian football stakeholders and laid down a roadmap for the AIFF, which has to change its rules by the end of July and hold elections by 15 September.

“The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs”.

It added, “FIFA is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved.”