Supreme Court terminates AIFF CoA, elections to be held soon

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered to terminate the tenure of the Committee of Administrators (CoA), which was constituted earlier by the Apex Court, to manage the affairs of All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The order by a Bench comprising Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice A.S. Bopanna followed the recent suspension of AIFF by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), allegedly due to the functioning of CoA, calling it a ‘third party activity’.

Earlier during the hearing, the Central government, by way of an application, sought re-election of AIFF at the earliest.

Appearing for the Union of India, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said the elected body of AIFF should look after it and the interference of CoA should be stopped altogether.

The Union of India further asked the Supreme Court to withdraw the authority of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) and end its term.

It also sought directions to the CoA to submit the draft of the Constitution of AIFF to the court by August 23.

Further, it requested that the day-to-day management of the football body should be managed by the AIFF administration, to be headed by the Acting Secretary General.

The Central government further told the top court of the country that it was considering a much larger role for former Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia than what he was aiming for (President of AIFF).

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Apex Court that Bhutia for football in India was like Sachin Tendulkar or Sunil Gavaskar for cricket.

Bhutia had filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court, seeking implementation of the Apex Court order of August 3, which said the constitution prepared by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) should be accepted as the new legislation for AIFF.

The application, filed through Advocate Purnima Krishna, sought intervention in the matter related to the suspension of AIFF by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) due to “undue influence from third parties”. 

Bhutia said the new constitution was inclusive of the changes that have occurred in today’s era, as well as was more sensitive towards the interest of both former and current players.

He also urged the court to pass an appropriate order, so that the Football Federation could be freed forever from the present system of monopoly, allegedly by some selfish elements.

According to the petition, the constitution made by CoA will also give freedom from the hegemony of some players and leaders for decades.

The plea noted that in the order of August 3 by the Supreme Court, it has been said that only a 36-member committee consisting of eminent and prominent football players will function as a general body (GB). Also, it will be part of the voters’ circle that elects the working committee.

This committee will give a practical system because of healthy democratic, rational and equal vote rights. Apart from this, it will take appropriate reforms, changes and steps according to the modern requirements, which will further strengthen the golden tradition of Indian football, Bhutia contended in his application.

In a press release on August 15, FIFA had suspended the AIFF with immediate effect. This meant that the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, scheduled to be held in October, cannot be held in India.

Following the AIFF suspension, the Supreme Court on August 17 told the Central government to take ‘proactive steps’ with FIFA to ensure that India can get to host the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup and also for lifting of AIFF’s suspension.

The Bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had passed the order, after it was informed that the Central government was attempting to break the ice with FIFA.