Fix issues, Fifa warns AIFF
New Delhi, June 23: The visiting FIFA-AFC team on Thursday set deadlines to clean up the Indian football mess, asking the stakeholders to get the constitution of the national federation approved by July 31 and conduct elections by September 15, failing which the country could be banned by the world body.
On the conclusion of its three-day visit of the country, the team, led by Asian Football Confederation General Secretary Windsor John, made it clear that the deadlines will have to be followed strictly.
A FIFA ban would mean the Women’s U-17 World Cup, to be held in October, taken away from the country. “It has been made clear by the joint FIFA-AFC team that the deadlines will have to be strictly adhered to. If not, the country can be banned and U-17 Women's World Cup will be taken away,” a top source said.
The FIFA wants enough time for the new office bearers to prepare for the U-17 Women's World Cup, that is why the September 15 deadline for elections so that the office bearers can take charge by September 20.
SREENIDI ON TOP TABLE IN KEY DISCUSSION
A delegation from Sreenidi Deccan Football Club, led by Dr. K. T. Mahhe, chairman of the Telangana Football Association (TFA), were invited for a high-level football meeting with officials from world football governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in light of the recent direction by Supreme Court appointing Committe of Administrators to examine change in constitution and conduct elections to the All India Football Federation.
As 24 Indian Super League and I-league clubs are main stake holders, a total of six clubs, three from the Ileague (Sreenidi Deccan FC, Mohammedan SC and
Gokulam Kerala) and three from the ISL (Hyderabad FC, ATK Mohun Bagan and FC Goa) were invited to the meeting.
With Hyderabad being represented by Sreenidi Deccan FC and Hyderabad FC, demonstrating the confidence of the AIFF executive in the ability of Hyderabad clubs to take Indian football forward and to restore the past glory of Hyderabad Football — in a short span of eight years since formation of Telangana, football under the stewardship of Dr Mahhe as chairman of TFA has been on an upswing.
On the agenda, the future of Indian football was the primary topic of discussion. FIFA, AFC, and AIFF officials lauded Sreenidi Deccan FC for its efforts and contributions to the development of football at the state and national levels, mentioning the club as a model for other football organisations to replicate.