FIFA lifts ban on AIFF, decks cleared for India to host Women's U-17 World Cup

football governing body FIFA on Friday lifted the ban imposed on the AIFF after the Supreme Court terminated the mandate of the Committee of Administrators (CoA), clearing the decks for India to host the Women's U-17 World Cup in October. FIFA had suspended the AIFF on August 15 for "undue influence from third parties" and had said the U-17 Women's World Cup "cannot currently be held in India as planned." The suspension, the first time in AIFF's 85-year history, lasted just 11 days after the Supreme Court on Monday dissolved the three-member CoA, constituted by it in May, while modifying its earlier orders to ensure that India hosts the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup from October 11-30. "The Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to lift the suspension that was imposed on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) due to undue third-party influence," the FIFA said in a statement. "The decision was taken after FIFA received confirmation that the mandate of the committee of administrators that was set up to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee had been terminated and that the AIFF administration had regained full control of the AIFF's daily affairs. "As a consequence, the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022 scheduled to take place on 11-30 October 2022 will be held in India as planned." FIFA said it and the AFC will continue to monitor the situation and will support the AIFF in conducting its elections in a timely manner.

On Tuesday, the AIFF's acting general secretary Sunando Dhar had requested FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura to "reconsider their decision of suspending the AIFF". "It is with immense pleasure that we inform you that the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India took up our matter and vide order dated