Indian Faces FIFA Suspension Threat For Second Time In Three Years

Indian football is once again at risk of a FIFA suspension, marking the second such threat in three years. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has received a stern joint warning from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), demanding that it finalize its revised constitution by 30 October 2025. Failure to secure Supreme Court approval for the amended constitution, ensure its alignment with FIFA and AFC statutes, and ratify it at the next General Body Meeting could lead to severe sanctions, including suspension and loss of membership rights in both organizations.

The primary issue is the AIFF’s prolonged delay in amending its constitution, a process pending since 2017. Despite repeated directives, the AIFF has failed to act, prompting FIFA and AFC to issue an ultimatum. Their letter, addressed to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, emphasizes that the revised constitution must comply with their regulations and that the AIFF must operate independently, free from third-party or government interference. This follows a previous suspension in August 2022, when FIFA banned India for third-party influence after a Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators took control of the federation. The ban was lifted ten days later after elections brought Chaubey to power, with the condition that the constitution would be finalized and new elections held—a commitment still unfulfilled as the matter remains unresolved in the Supreme Court, despite a ready judgment.

FIFA and AFC have warned that non-compliance could bar Indian national teams and clubs from international competitions, jeopardize India’s bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, and disrupt the domestic football calendar, including the Indian Super League, with commercial partnerships already uncertain beyond December 2025. The AIFF has been instructed to present the FIFA-AFC letter to the Supreme Court and inform the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, underscoring the urgency of compliance to safeguard its status. As the deadline looms, Indian football faces a critical moment, with the risk of significant setbacks if the constitutional reforms are not implemented swiftly.