Bhaichung Bhutia wants voting rights for players in future AIFF constitution

Bhaichung Bhutia on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court decision to remove the Committee of Administrators as it was done to "salvage" the U-17 Women's World Cup and ensure revocation of the FIFA ban on India. The top court modified its earlier order to facilitate the holding of the women's age-group showpiece in India in October and revocation of suspension of All India Football Federation (AIFF) by the world governing body FIFA.

Read AlsoFIFA ban: SC says CoA to cease to exist, postpones AIFF poll schedule by one week

The Supreme Court on Monday directed that the three- member Committee of Administrators appointed to oversee the affairs of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) should cease to exist.

The CoA had been overseeing the affairs of the AIFF since the May 18 SC order. "Today's SC decision was in the interest of Indian football and not for any party or the other. The first priority was the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, that's a prestige issue for India. The second is the lifting of the ban on India," Bhutia said on the sidelines of the launch of the Bangla Soccer League. "The priority for all of us -- players, CoA, state associations -- is to ensure the hosting of the (Women's U-17) World Cup and the ban is lifted." A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna postponed the August 28 elections of the AIFF, which were to be held under the aegis of the SC-appointed three-member CoA, by one week to allow a changed electoral college and starting of nomination process. The top court passed the order on an application filed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports seeking modifications of an earlier order in view of the discussions with FIFA. Bhutia, a talisman of the national team during his illustrious