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FIFA issued a statement yesterday announcing that "the Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes".
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court today that the Government of India has taken up the issue of FIFA suspending the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect and has had two meeting with the FIFA administrators.
"We are trying to break the ice. Few words from the court that we are trying to sort this up, will help us...", the court was further told.
With this, the SG requested the Court to take up the matter on Monday. He further informed the Court that the Committee of Administrators is also helping the government in talks with FIFA.
At this juncture, Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, the respondent, informed the Court that the members of AIFF who had stepped down were orchestrating this dispute.
On hearing this, Justice Chandrachud said that the hosting of the U17 Women's Football World Cup was a great event for the country.
"But if somebody from outside is trying to create something...", the court was saying when the SG interjected stating that serious action can be taken if such is the case.
Yesterday, FIFA clarified that the U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned.
Furthermore, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan informed the court that little girls from Uzbekistan have already reached India for the tournament. To this, the SG said that it was a matter of great prestige for the country and the government is looking into it.
Accordingly, a bench of Justices Chandrachud, Bopanna, and Pardiwala agreed to list the matter on Monday while requesting the government to take proactive steps to lift the suspension imposed on AIFF.
After FIFA announced its decision yesterday to suspend the AIFF with immediate effect, the Central government mentioned the matter before the Top Court for urgent hearing.
In the beginning of this month, Supreme Court had directed the Committee of Administrators (CoA), appointed by it, to conduct All India Football Federation elections expeditiously as per the timeline suggested by CoA and in consonance with the Sports Code and the Football Federation's draft Constitution. AIFF has challenged the Delhi High Court order staying the fresh elections of the committee.
Earlier, the Court orally assured that on the next date of hearing, it will ensure that a democratically elected body will be put in place in time for the Under-17 Women's world cup that is to take place in October 2022.
Case Title: All India Football Federation vs. Rahul Mehra & Ors
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