FIFA ban: SC tells govt to work on lifting suspension of India's top football body

New Delhi, Aug 17: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Centre to take proactive steps to resolve issue with FIFA and pave the way for hosting U-17 women's world cup. The apex court adjourned the matter till August 22.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, AS Bopanna and JB Paridwala was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that two meetings have been held by the government and committee of administrators with FIFA and efforts are being made to "break some ice" on the holding of the U-17 Women's World Cup in India.

He requested that the matter be deferred till August 22 so that a consensus could be arrived at between the active stakeholders of the AIFF. Mehta said that a few words from the court that the stakeholders are trying to sort this up will help them in their endeavour.

The bench said it is a great international event for the under 17 children and it is only concerned with the fact that the tournament is held in the country. If somebody from outside is trying to interfere with it, it would not be tolerated, it said. The bench asked the Centre to play a proactive role in the matter and facilitate the lifting the suspension of AIFF.

India was on Tuesday suspended by world governing body FIFA for "undue influence from third parties" and stripped the country of the right to host the Under-17 Women's World Cup, scheduled for October.

This is the first time that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been banned by FIFA in its 85-year-old history.

A ban on India was on the cards after the Supreme Court removed Praful Patel as AIFF president on May 18 for not holding elections due in December 2020.

The court had appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA), headed by former apex court judge AR Dave, to manage the affairs of the national federation.

The CoA, which has former Chief Commissioner of India SY Quraishi and ex India captain Bhaskar Ganguly as other members, also had to frame its constitution in line with the National Sports Code and model guidelines.