Supreme Court Clears AIFF Constitution Aimed at Professionalism and Efficiency in Sports

The Supreme Court on Friday gave its approval to the Constitution of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), after considering objections and suggestions from stakeholders and ensuring its conformity with the National Sports Code, 2011 as well as the statutes of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation. 

A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi said, ''It is high time we recognize that sporting 'facilities and opportunities' are 'material resources of the community', and their organizers are 'the institutions of the national life . As 'places of public resort,” sporting institutions and bodies must remain accessible, not just for pursuing sport, but also for its administration".

Court directed the AIFF administration to call for a special general body meeting and adopt the draft Constitution with the modifications in this judgment. 

"This shall be done at the earliest, preferably within 4 weeks. We are of the firm opinion that the Constitution, once adopted in terms of Article 84, will mark a new beginning for Indian football and take the sport to greater heights,'' the bench said.

Court said the current executive committee, whose term will expire in September, 2026, can be treated as a permanent body that would discharge its function in accordance with the relevant laws as well as the AIFF Constitution. 

Court had, on May 2, 2023, entrusted the task of finalising the Constitution of AIFF to retired SC judge, Justice L Nageswara Rao, in view of his experience in BCCI matters as well as a similar exercise undertaken by him in relation to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Court was informed that, though the National Sports Governance Act 2025 had been enacted, the draft Constitution, as per the amendments suggested by Justice L N Rao, was more or less in consonance with the provisions of the legislation, to be notified.

With the development, the AIFF’s governance would undergo massive changes. The new Constitution fixes a maximum cumulative tenure of 12 years for office bearers, split into two four-year terms followed by a mandatory cooling-off period. Among others, no individual above the age of 70 can contest. The executive committee will have 14 members, including the president, two vice-presidents (one reserved for a woman), a treasurer, and 10 others, of whom five must be eminent players, with at least two women among them. Office bearers, including the president, can be removed through a no-confidence motion.

In its judgment, the apex court emphasised that it is also necessary to ensure that sporting facilities and opportunities are not concentrated in the hands of the urban economic elite and that the revenues from sporting events, intellectual property and media rights are so distributed to subserve and encourage accessible and affordable sport in our country. 

It said, unlike rights that can be enforced through law, fraternity is not amenable to judicial command; it must be nurtured through lived experiences of unity, trust, and shared endeavour. 

"National, international, regional or even mohalla sports in India serve as the Karmabhumi where cohesion and collective purpose take tangible form. They bring together individuals from diverse social, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds under a common pursuit, embodying the Constitutional value of fraternity. Here, individual and collective aspirations find a way to coalesce,'' the court felt.

The bench said, our country is brimming with promising sporting talent that seeks suitable avenues and organisational support. 

"We need to channelise this talent efficiently – from village fields to international platforms. We believe that the Constitution of AIFF is an important structural foundation in this regard and the stakeholders of Indian sports will have an important role in ensuring that Indian football remains thrilling, competitive and value oriented and continue to make its mark in the national and international landscape,'' the bench said.  

The court noted that as of April 03, 2025, the Indian men’s football team’s international ranking was 127.

"Taking into account the fact that Indian football began way back in time and also the fact that Indian sports have flourished with time, it is an opportune moment to decide that hereon, Indian football will not be played in silos. Healthy competition in Indian football shall only benefit and take the sport to new heights,'' the bench said.

AIFF and state associations submitted that the BCCI judgment cannot be applied to football governance because BCCI is not an NSF and therefore does not fall within the contours of NSC 2011 as well. 

Rejecting the arguments, the bench said the judgments and orders concerning the management and organisation of BCCI had far-reaching impacts. The BCCI series of cases envisaged and embarked on a new dawn of Indian sports governance, and also developed principles and best practices which can be imbibed in letter and spirit, the court opined.

"This present exercise is primarily about football, but on a broader level, is also an exercise to instil professionalism, efficiency, and fairness in sports administration, which shall take Indian football to greater heights. Distinguishing BCCI judgments only on the ground that BCCI is not an NSF, while AIFF is, does not yield any good,'' the court said.

Case Title: All India Football Federation Vs Rahul Mehra & Ors

Judgment Date: September 19, 2025

Bench: Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi