Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Indian football now finds itself under an urgent and precarious spotlight as FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issue an ultimatum to the All India Football Federation (AIFF): ratify a revised constitution that conforms fully with their statutes by October 30, 2025—or face suspension from international football. The stern two-page joint letter, addressed to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, underscores a buildup of concern over persistent governance deadlock that has hampered Indian football's stability and credibility .

Since 2017, the AIFF has failed to finalize and implement a constitution acceptable to FIFA and AFC, a lapse that has generated a "governance and operational crisis." Key functions—from domestic match schedules to commercial partnerships beyond December 2025—remain in limbo, threatening the livelihoods of players and staff across the football ecosystem, especially in the Indian Super League (ISL) . The players’ union, FIFPRO, further raised alarm over reports of abrupt terminations of employment contracts by several clubs, citing the constitutional vacuum as a root cause .

To avert suspension, the AIFF must take three decisive steps by the October 30 deadline: secure a definitive Supreme Court order approving the revised constitution; ensure it aligns fully with FIFA and AFC statutes; and ratify it in their next General Body meeting . Failure to comply would leave FIFA and AFC with no choice but to escalate the matter to their decision-making bodies, potentially leading to formal suspension of the AIFF and loss of all membership rights .

This threatened suspension would echo the one imposed in August 2022, when FIFA suspended the AIFF due to “third-party interference” after the appointment of a Supreme Court-mandated Committee of Administrators (CoA). The suspension was lifted within two weeks after elections were organized under AIFF leadership .

The legal tensions are compounded by the AIFF’s ongoing dispute with its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). Their Master Rights Agreement (MRA), which governs the ISL, expired in December 2025. Renewals have been stalled following a Supreme Court directive delaying action until the constitutional impasse is resolved. As a result, prior to the FIFA warning, the ISL season was already put on hold, with several clubs reporting operational struggles, salary delays, or even halts in activity .

Despite the mounting pressure, there’s a glimmer of cooperation: the Supreme Court has allowed AIFF and FSDL to engage in talks for interim arrangements to ensure the season can proceed. AIFF claims it will negotiate in good faith .

At its core, this crisis is more than bureaucratic delay—it is a fundamental test of governance and autonomy in Indian football. As October 30 approaches, the AIFF’s handling of constitutional reform may well determine the future of the sport on both national and international fronts.