Ban threat and Indian football

As the country celebrates National Sports Day tomorrow, Indian football is under threat of ban by world football body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation. FIFA's threat is due to the All India Football Federation not implementing the constitutional reform. FIFA and the AFC have announced that if the reform is not implemented before October 30, India will be banned from competing at the Asian and international levels. This ban threat is like a threat on top of danger for Indian football, which is unable to even hold domestic competitions including the ISL due to power struggles. The trip of the Argentine team, including Messi, to Kerala and the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo playing club football in Goa, will be in trouble if the ban happens.

This is in addition to the humiliation of being excluded from the most prominent international sport after the national sports law came into force. This is not the first time that FIFA has suspended the All India Football Federation due to organizational issues. The 2022 ban was imposed after the Supreme Court removed AIFF President Praful Patel and appointed a temporary committee for day-to-day administration. The ban was lifted two weeks later when elections were held and a new governing body was formed under the leadership of Kalyan Choubey. At that time, FIFA had strictly instructed the federation to amend its constitution in a way that there was no interference from the government or the courts. FIFA had to threaten a ban again because no action had been taken even after three years.

The federation started revising the constitution in 2017. It was submitted to the Supreme Court in July 2022. The court appointed retired Justice L. Nageswara Rao to finalize it. When it was ready, changes had to be made to the basis of the new sports law. It will take some time to incorporate suggestions from the associations and come into force. FIFA wants the report on the new constitution passed by the AIFF General Body to be submitted by October 30. For years, the game in Indian football has been played on the court verandah, not in the middle of the field. The situation where nothing could be done without a final court verdict came to light when the string-pulling and powerplay involved in getting the association's governance was questioned. The former secretary, who is a Malayali, has questioned his dismissal in court. The current secretary is also a Malayali.

The central government brought the Sports Code with the aim of making the elections and governance of the country's sports associations transparent and corruption-free. However, FIFA's action is proof that the government's law is valid only if it is within the framework of international sports organizations. If the Football Federation is banned again, it will also set back the efforts to prepare a venue for the 2036 Olympics. The embarrassment to the country in the international sports arena cannot be reversed. Efforts to remove the ban should be made by those at the helm of Indian football. Beyond personal power struggles, disputes, and court cases, there should be compromises for the game of football. What is the point if football itself disappears when people go after chairs in the federation? Competitions including the ISL and I-League should be held here, and the Indian team should be able to compete at the international level. Not just Messi and Cristiano, but all world-class players should come to play here. Let our sports leaders make efforts for that.