New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been warned by the FIFA against the influence of any third party interference and has also been asked to conduct their affairs as per FIFA guidelines.
The apex football governing body sent an official letter to the AIFF regarding the same and have also asked for more details about why was the presidential election of the AIFF deemed invalid by the Delhi High Court.
“We can confirm that FIFA has today sent a letter to the AIFF requesting more information about Delhi’s High Court decision as well as the steps that AIFF intends to undertake in this matter,” said a FIFA spokesperson as quoted by the Hindustan Times.
“FIFA has also reminded the AIFF that in accordance with art. 14 par. 1 Iet. i) and art‚ 19 of the FIFA Statutes all member associations, including the AIFF, are obliged to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties,” he added.
The AIFF has come under the scanner in recent times after President Praful Patel was sacked by the Delhi HC on grounds of contesting invalid elections. The HC also appointed former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi to look into the affairs of the football body as it’s administrator, until new elections are held.
The FIFA statutes clearly states that the member federations are bound to be free from any third party legal and political interference and the AIFF may face the axe if it fails to follow such guidelines.
Countries such as Pakistan, Kuwait, and Guatemala have already been banned by the world governing body due to similar interference and the AIFF now finds itself in a state of facing the same situation.
Interestingly, a total of 17 members were selected to the executive committee, all unopposed in December 2016, as Praful Patel a former MP, won his third straight election as the President of the AIFF. It had mentioned then, that the elections were held in compliance with all the statutes of the National Sports Code.
However, the Delhi HC on October 31 ruled the elections as invalid and as one that violated the Sports Code.
The AIFF has already received a copy of the court order and is expected to take it’s next step after consulting their lawyers.