India could face its second FIFA ban in just three years after both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a stern warning to the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The governing bodies demanded that India adopt a new constitution by October 30, or face suspension from international football competitions.
FIFA and the AFC expressed deep concern over India’s continued failure to finalize its football constitution, which has been pending before the Supreme Court since 2017. In a joint letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, the two bodies emphasized that if India does not meet the deadline, the issue will be referred to FIFA’s decision-making body for further action.
The letter also made clear that the AIFF must treat this communication as binding, with immediate compliance required to safeguard its rights as a member of FIFA and the AFC. The lack of a finalized constitution has been a longstanding issue, leading to significant setbacks for Indian football.
A suspension from FIFA would result in Indian national teams and clubs being barred from participating in all international competitions, further damaging the country’s footballing reputation. The AIFF’s troubles are compounded by internal turmoil, including disputes with its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited, which threatens the future of the Indian Super League (ISL).
The ISL is facing uncertainty as its rights agreement with the AIFF expires on December 8, and negotiations for a renewal have stalled. This delay has already postponed the start of this season’s ISL, putting thousands of players and staff at risk of losing their jobs. In addition, the AIFF has yet to come up with a viable revival plan for the league, which traditionally runs from September to April.
Last year, India was briefly suspended by FIFA in August 2022 due to third-party influence after the Supreme Court appointed a committee of administrators to manage the AIFF. The ban was lifted shortly thereafter, allowing Chaubey to assume the role of AIFF president, but the governance challenges continue to hinder the country’s football progress.
The situation has now escalated, with the players’ union FIFPRO Asia/Oceania recently raising the issue with FIFA, urging the governing body to intervene and ensure that the future of football in India remains secure.
