Former AIFF secretary hits out at Praful Patel; claims India could be banned by FIFA

Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary general, Alberto Colaco has opened up on the controversy surrounding the workings of the national football in India, revealing that the country might face sanctions from FIFA – which could also result in a ban.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed a three-member COA headed top court judge AR Dave, Dr SY Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner and Bhaskar Ganguly, former captain of the Indian National Football Team to oversee the working functions of the AIFF on interim basis.

Many followers of Indian football fear that the AIFF could be facing a ban very soon considering that FIFA have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to external interference in the functioning of national member federations – which could also see them decided to move the Under-17 Women’s World Cup from India, which is scheduled to take place later this year.

“If we go by earlier precedents, I think there will be a ban for India. If things have come to such a sorry state for the AIFF, it is only because Praful Patel has acted arbitrarily and selfishly for his own benefit,” Colaco said as quoted by Times of India.

Dr SY Quraishi, who is member of the CoA as appointed by the Supreme Court for his part does not think action from FIFA is likely and is confident that India will avoid a ban.

“I don’t think FIFA would have an objection to this development. After all, holding elections is also a mandate in FIFA. Football elections were long overdue, the erstwhile team had stayed on past it’s tenure and elections were necessary.

“I don’t see a non-compliance issue with FIFA here. We hope that FIFA will understand and cooperate and we will cooperate with them as we try to finish this task given to us by the court.”

Quraishi had recently hinted that they will try to hold elections by September or October.