The Gokulam Kerala Women’s team is in Uzbekistan to take part in the AFC Women’s Club Championship on August 23. That looks uncertain now following Fifa’s decision to suspend the All India Football Federation. Also uncertain is ATK Mohun Bagan’s participation in the AFC Cup inter-zone playoffs semi-finals, scheduled for September 7.
There is also a cloud over the U-17 boys’ participation in the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers, to be held in October. The senior men’s team’s scheduled international friendlies against Singapore and Vietnam are in doubt. The team has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup 2023. But the biggest setback is India losing the host rights of the U-17 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The tournament is scheduled to start on October 11. Unless Fifa rescinds the suspension order, India cannot host the tournament. That’s how messy the scene looks like after Fifa’s decision to suspend the AIFF for “undue interference from third parties”. This is the first time in the AIFF’s 85-year-old history that it has faced such a sanction from Fifa.
The AIFF would suffer monetary losses as well. They will not receive the $500,000 per year grant from Fifa. Neither will the football’s world governing body invest in any project in India. It’s a tough time for Indian football, but it’s also the right time to get the house in order, feels former national captain Bhaichung Bhutia.
“It’s very unfortunate that Fifa has suspended the AIFF. I feel it’s a very harsh decision,” Bhaichung said. “But at the same time, I feel it’s a great opportunity for us to get our system right. It’s very important that all the stakeholders — the federation, the state associations — come together and get the system right,” he added.
The suspension will, however, not affect domestic tournaments such as the ongoing Durand Cup, Indian Super League (ISL), I-League and the Super Cup. Prasun Banerjee, former India footballer and member of the Lok Sabha, said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter.
“We all should work together to lift the suspension and put the system in place,” Prasun told The Telegraph. Another former India player, Prasanta Banerjee, feels the football authorities are to be blamed for not adhering to Fifa’s protocol.
