Would you believe it? The country that set a milestone after hosting the FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2017 with a grand success, could be in line for a ban soon, if things get absoultely messy. The world football governing body has confirmed on Saturday (November 4) that they have written a letter to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and are seeking immediate answers.
Just less than a week after the end of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the Delhi High Court acted on a PIL filed by renowned sports activist Rahul Mehra and ordered the AIFF to hold fresh presidential elections within 5 months.
Mehra alleged that the December 2016 elections was not conducted in adherence with the National Sports Code. Praful Patel became the AIFF president for the third time in a row last year.
READ: Football is India's future, forget cricket: Infantino
The judicial body appointed SY Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, as the AIFF Administrator, to oversee the proceedings in the Indian football governing body, henceforth.
FIFA, presided by Gianni Infantino, has reminded the AIFF that legal or political interference in a football body is something they have never stood for and will never ever entertain.
India's arch-rivals in both sports and politics sphere, Pakistan were recently handed out a ban by the world football governing body owing to this very reason - third-party interference.
"FIFA has sent a letter to the AIFF requesting more information about Delhi's High Court decision as well as the steps that AIFF intends to undertake in this matter," FIFA told Reuters in an emailed statement.
"FIFA has also reminded the AIFF that... member associations, including the AIFF, are obliged to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties."
Articles 14 and 19 of the latest FIFA statutes state:
