FIFA ban and its ripple effect on Indian football

FIFA ban on Indian football due to "third party interference". As per Article 13 of FIFA Statutes, the letter sent by the world football governing body general secretary Fatma Samoura states that "AIFF representatives and club teams are therefore no longer entitled to take part in the international competition until the suspension is lifted.

"This also means that neither the AIFF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any development programmes, courses or training from FIFA and/or the AFC." While there is no imminent threat to the AFC Asian Cup participation by the senior men's team in late 2023 or early 2024, some of the games slated for clubs and age-group national teams in the next few months could well be tricky terrain. Look at some of the upcoming assignments under threatIndia's men's national teamThe two friendly internationals against Vietnam (September 24) and Singapore (September 27) will stand cancelled if the ban is not revoked at the earliest.

Some years ago, the Indian men's team used to struggle to get quality games on FIFA international friendly dates, and a lot of the blame lay at the doors of the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) administration. Things did change slightly after Croatian head coach Igor Stimac pushed for more friendlies, something that his predecessors Stephen Constantine and Wim Koevermans lacked.

The ban has brought the senior team back to square one. Gokulam women wait anxiously in UzbekistanIndian Women's League champions Gokulam Kerala were set to open their campaign in the AFC Women's Club Championship against home side Sogdiana-W in Qarshi, Uzbekistan on August 23.