AIFF Ban: The Supreme Court terminated the mandate of its Committee of Administrators (CoA) to manage the affairs of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to overcome suspension of the Indian football body by FIFA.

Key Details:

• The three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) headed by a former apex court judge was appointed by it nearly two months back for managing the affairs of the national football body AIFF.
• The order came on a fresh plea filed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports seeking modification of the May 18 and August 3 orders of the court after consultation with the international football federation (FIFA) to ensure revocation of the suspension of AIFF and the hosting right for holding of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 in India.

Why was the ban imposed on IAFF?

• The world body FIFA had derecognized AIFF, citing "third-party interference"as it constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes’. 
• FIFA made it clear that it wants an elected body, and not a court-appointed entity like CoA, to manage AIFF affairs.

AIFF Crisis:

• AIFF crisis has been brewing at the football’s apex regulator in the country for months. 
• On 18th May, the Supreme Court of India (SCI) ordered the removal of Mr Praful Patel from the post of AIFF president after he failed to hold elections for the football body as per the earlier issued deadline of December 2020. 
• Then, the apex court also appointed a 3-member Committee of Administrators (CoA), headed by former top court judge AR Dave, to manage the affairs of the AIFF. 
• The committee was entrusted with the task of drafting the AIFF constitution in accordance with the National Sports Code and model guidelines. 

It is against this decision of the Supreme Court that FIFA has raised an objection and decided to ban AIFF for "undue influence from third parties".

About AIFF:

• The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is the governing body of football in India under jurisdiction of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India (GoI).
• It was formed in 1935 and founded at Darbhanga.
• The federation was one of the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation, the overseer of football in Asia.
• The federation is also responsible for managing the India national football team, as well as the women's team and the various youth national sides.
• The federation is currently based in Delhi.