London: FIFA, the apex football body on Tuesday has announced to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties.
This decision has been taken unanimously by the Bureau of the FIFA Council.
Pertinently, the Durand Cup is going to start in Kolkata from August 16. In this, Bangalore FC’s team is going to face Jamshedpur FC.
FIFA had warned the AIFF of suspension in early August over third-party interference. But now it said in a statement that the decision of suspension has been taken after the consent of FIFA Council members.
“The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the AIFF with immediate effect due to undue influence by third parties, in serious violation of FIFA regulations,” FIFA said.
“The suspension will be lifted after the order to constitute a Committee of Administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee is revoked and the AIFF administration regains full control of the day-to-day affairs of the AIFF,” FIFA said.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Sunil Chhetri said that he had asked his teammates not to take FIFA’s warning seriously and only focus only on their game.