Government proposes to end CoA mandate in SC application, accepts all FIFA demands

The sports ministry's move, a day before a crucial hearing of the top court, can be seen as an attempt to salvage the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, scheduled to be held in October. The world body had on August 15 imposed a ban on All India Football Federation (AIFF) due to "third party interference" and said that the women's age-group showpiece "cannot currently be held in India as planned". The government in its application has virtually accepted all the demands made by the FIFA, including ending the tenure of the SC-appointed CoA as well as not allowing individual members in the electoral college.

It, however, said that the ousted Praful Patel-led dispensation should be excluded from the AIFF. "...this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to ... direct that day-to-day management of AIFF shall be looked after by the AIFF administration led by the acting Secretary General to the exclusion of the earlier elected body and the CoA will have no role in the administration of AIFF from 22.08.2022," the application read.

"... to require the CoA to submit the final draft constitution to this Hon'ble Court by the end of 23.08.2022, and that the mandate of the COA be declared to be over in full from 23.08.2022." In its statement while suspending AIFF, the FIFA had said the lifting of the suspension on AIFF will be subject to repealing of CoA's mandate in full. FIFA also said that it wants the AIFF administration to "be fully in charge of the AIFF's daily affairs".