Former AIFF President Praful Patel Requests FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino To Not Ban India

Removed as the president of All India Football Federation by the Supreme Court, Praful Patel on Monday requested FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to not impose a ban on the country after the sports body was placed under a Committee of Administrators. Last week, the SC appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to run the AIFF, virtually revoking the powers of its governing body headed by Patel while opening up the possibility of a FIFA ban for "external interference". The three-member panel has been mandated to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the AIFF until elections are held under a new constitution.

"I would also like to point out that the Supreme Court has expressed a sense of urgency in resolving all the issues by July 2022.

"I request the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) and FIFA to not impose a suspension at this stage, but instead to consider this important aspect of the Supreme Court order and enter into a dialogue with the CoA to receive a commitment that the said timelines laid down by the Supreme Court would be respected and strictly followed without allowing for delays on any account," Patel said in his letter to Infantino.

A FIFA ban at this stage would mean the under-17 women's World Cup, scheduled from October 11-30, will be taken away from India.

India's 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers, scheduled in Kolkata next month, could also be hit.

"Noting that the appointment of the CoA by the Supreme Court could be prima facie interpreted by both the AFC and FIFA as a case of undue third-party influence/judicial interference, I fear that a suspension by the AFC and/or FIFA will automatically prevent India and/or Indian clubs and players from participating in any international competitions, and deprive the