The Supreme Court of India has given its final approval to the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) constitution, incorporating significant reforms. The approved constitution bars ministers and bureaucrats from holding management positions within the AIFF and sets a 70-year age cap for office bearers. This decision mirrors the framework the court approved for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2018.

Key Directives and Implications

A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi directed the AIFF to convene a special general body meeting to adopt the revised constitution within four weeks, ideally by October 14 in Goa. The court expressed hope that this would mark a new beginning for Indian football. The current governing body will continue until September 2026.

The AIFF had requested the non-exclusion of public servants, Members of Parliament (MPs), and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who could contribute to sports management. However, the court's 78-page judgment stated that ministers and government servants are ineligible for AIFF office bearer positions.

Constitution Highlights

• Age and Tenure Limits: The constitution caps the tenure of office bearers at 12 years, with a maximum of two successive four-year terms. A mandatory four-year cooling-off period follows eight years in office, and individuals over 70 years old cannot hold office. The minimum age for office bearers is set at 25 years, and they must be citizens and residents of India.
• Executive Committee Composition: The AIFF executive body will consist of 14 members: a president, two vice presidents (one male, one female), a treasurer, and 10 other members. Five of these members must be eminent players, with at least two being women.
• General Body Representation: The general body will include representatives from every member association, 15 eminent players (including five women), three club representatives from the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, and Indian Women's League, and male and female representatives from referees and coaches.
• Eminent Players Criteria: The eligibility criteria for "eminent players" has been set at a minimum of five international matches for men and two for women.
• Disqualification Norms: An AIFF officer bearer will be disqualified if convicted and sentenced for more than two years, similar to the norms for MPs and MLAs.
• No-Confidence Motion: The constitution introduces a mechanism for removing office bearers, including the president, through a no-confidence motion.
• The AIFF shall have 3 vice presidents including one woman.
• The AIFF shall have 15 eminent players with voting rights.

FIFA and AFC Concerns

The Supreme Court's directive that no amendments to the Constitution can take effect without the court's approval may raise concerns with FIFA, which strictly prohibits third-party interference. FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had set an October 30 deadline for the AIFF to ratify the new constitution. Failure to do so could lead to suspension from international competitions and jeopardize India's bid for the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad. FIFA had previously suspended India in August 2022 for "third-party interference" before lifting the ban after the Committee of Administrators (CoA) was dissolved.

Other Key Points

• The court rejected a plea to exclude office bearers of the National Sports Federation from holding posts in the AIFF.
• The court approved an AIFF amendment to increase the number of vice-presidents to three, including one woman.
• The court has directed the AIFF administration to call for a special general body meeting and adopt the draft constitution with the modifications.
• The court expects the new Constitution to bring about institutional changes in Indian football.
• The Supreme Court has been monitoring AIFF's management and the conduct of national-level football tournaments and leagues.