Indian Football Association suspended

India’s football association has been suspended by FIFA because of “undue influence from third parties”.

It means the women’s Under-17 World Cup, set to begin in the country on October 11, will not take place as planned.

India’s highest court had disbanded the All India Football Federation in May and appointed a three-member committee to govern the sport.

FIFA’s member federations must be freed from legal and political interference.

World governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation have met Indian football stakeholders and laid down a roadmap for the AIFF, which has to change its rules by the end of July and hold elections by September 15.

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once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs,” FIFA added.

“FIFA is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved.”