Did the SC Approve a New Constitution for AIFF as a New Dawn for Indian Football?

New Delhi, Sep 19 (NationPress) On Friday, the Supreme Court sanctioned the revised draft Constitution of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), mandating the AIFF management to implement it within a span of four weeks. This decision has been hailed as a pivotal moment in the governance of Indian football, as remarked by Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, who stated, “We firmly believe that the Constitution, once ratified in accordance with Article 84, will signify a new dawn for Indian football and elevate the sport to unprecedented levels.”

The Justice Narasimha-led Bench reaffirmed the inclusion of 15 distinguished players in the AIFF General Body, despite pushback from state associations. The court declared, “We hold that the liberty to form an association is not infringed upon by the necessity to integrate 15 notable players... The inclusion of these distinguished players, coaches, referees, and club representatives in the general body will undoubtedly enhance transparency and uphold fair play.”

Regarding the eligibility criteria for these eminent players, the apex court has relaxed the standards to broaden the selection pool. “We find it reasonable to lessen the criteria proposed by Justice L N Rao to 5 matches for men and 2 matches for women. We anticipate that such an adjustment will facilitate greater participation by retired players who can emerge as effective leaders and mentors in Indian football,” stated the Justice Narasimha-led Bench.

In endorsing governance reforms inspired by BCCI rulings, the Supreme Court dismissed claims that the context of football differs significantly. “This endeavor is fundamentally about football, but on a wider scale, it aims to establish professionalism, efficiency, and fairness in sports administration, which will elevate Indian football to new heights.”

While distinguishing BCCI rulings solely on the premise that BCCI is not a National Sports Federation (NSF) while AIFF is, does not provide any substantial benefit, the court rejected arguments presented by AIFF and the state associations.

The Supreme Court instructed the AIFF to hold a Special General Body meeting within four weeks to adopt the amended draft Constitution as detailed in its recent ruling. “Our nation is teeming with promising sporting talent that seeks appropriate platforms and organizational backing. We believe that the Constitution of AIFF serves as a crucial structural foundation in this context, and stakeholders in Indian sports must play an instrumental role in ensuring that Indian football remains exciting, competitive, and value-driven while making a mark on both national and international stages.”