The Supreme Court on Monday “terminated” the “Committee of Administrators” (CoA) appointed by it to run the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in a bid to regain the country’s right to host the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in October and facilitate withdrawal of the ban clamped by Fifa, the body that governs the sport worldwide. The court instead vested the powers of running the federation in the “Acting Secretary General,” until a formal elected body is in place by the first week of September.

A bench of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice A.S. Bopanna passed the order after hearing solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, who pleaded that the immediate impact of Fifa’s decision would be that (i) The Under17 Women’s World Cup 2022, which is to take place in October 2022, would be in jeopardy; (ii) Indian teams selected by the AIFF and its affiliated clubs would no longer be entitled to take part in international football matches or competitions so long as the suspension continues.

The top court also postponed the August 28 elections of the AIFF by one week to allow a changed electoral college and the start of the nomination process. “The voters’ list for the ensuing elections shall consist exclusively of representatives of the Member Associations representing the States/ Union Territories (35+1 Associations)”, the bench said and excluded eminent players as directed earlier.

It said the returning officers — Umesh Sinha and Tapas Bhattacharya — shall be “deemed to be the returning officers appointed by this court” to conduct the elections as there has been no objection to their continuance by any of the contesting parties, including the member-associations representing the States/Union Territories.

“The Returning Officers shall, within the said period, refix the modalities for the filing of nominations from the stage which was reached on August 13, 2022, and ensure that the elections are completed on schedule,” it said.

The bench directed that the executive committee of the AIFF shall consist of 23 persons. Of these, 17 members (inclusive of the president, a treasurer, and one vice-president) will be elected by the Electoral College consisting of 36 associations representing States/Union Territories and six members shall be drawn from eminent players — four men and two women.

The bench also requested senior counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan, earlier appearing for the CoA, to assist the court with Samar Bansal as amicus curiae as the mandate of the CoA stands terminated.

“The above directions have been issued in modification of the previous orders of this Court to facilitate the revocation of the suspension which has been imposed on AIFF by FIFA and the holding of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 in India. In the event that the above process is not taken to its logical conclusion, the Court would consider any further order at the subsequent stage,” Justice Chandrachud, who dictated the order, observed.

The court had appointed the CoA on May 18. The panel comprised former top court judge Justice (retd) AR Dave, former chief election commissioner SY Quraishi and former India football team captain Bhaskar Ganguly.