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Synopsis

After FIFA announced its decision today to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect, the Central government mentioned the matter before the Top Court today for urgent hearing.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter today before a bench of Justice DY Chandrachud stating that some development has taken place in the matter related to AIFF and requested the court to hear the matter on Wednesday.

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 had 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.

FIFA issued a statement today 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".

The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee gets repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs, FIFA added.

The international governing body has clarified that the FIFA 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.

Case Title: All India Football Federation vs. Rahul Mehra & Ors