World football's governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have issued a final ultimatum to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), threatening a suspension if it fails to adopt a new, compliant constitution by October 30. In a strongly-worded joint letter sent to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey on Tuesday, the governing bodies expressed "profound concern" over the long-standing failure to resolve a governance crisis that has plagued Indian football for years.
The letter outlines a clear and non-negotiable timeline. By the October 30 deadline, the AIFF must secure a definitive order from the Supreme Court approving the revised constitution, ensure it fully aligns with FIFA and AFC statutes, and get it formally ratified at its next General Body Meeting. "Failure to meet this schedule will leave us with no alternative but to refer the matter to the relevant FIFA decision-making body for consideration and decision,” the letter warned.
FIFA and the AFC stated that the failure to finalize the constitution, a matter that has been ongoing since 2017, has created an "untenable vacuum and legal uncertainties at the heart of Indian football." This prolonged impasse has led to a severe operational crisis, with uncertainty clouding the domestic competition calendar and crucial commercial partnerships remaining unconfirmed beyond December 2025.
The governance logjam has had a "profoundly negative impact on India’s football ecosystem," directly affecting the Indian Super League (ISL). The letter highlighted concerning reports from the international players' union, FIFPRO, regarding the "unilateral termination of players’ employment contracts by various clubs" as a direct consequence of the current standstill, jeopardizing players' livelihoods and careers.
The entire matter is currently before the Supreme Court of India, with the next hearing scheduled for tomorrow, August 28. In a recent hearing, the court's bench noted that its judgment in the case is "ready" but has been deferred to ensure it is "in sync" with the newly enacted National Sports Act. The AIFF has been instructed to present the FIFA-AFC letter to the court.
This is not the first time the AIFF has faced such a threat. FIFA previously suspended the federation in August 2022 for "third-party influence" after a Supreme Court-appointed committee was tasked with running its affairs. The new letter once again reminds the AIFF of its "obligation to manage its affairs independently and without any undue third-party influence," warning that a suspension would result in the loss of all its rights as a FIFA and AFC member.
With the October 30 deadline looming, the AIFF is now in a critical race against time. The federation must successfully navigate the Supreme Court proceedings and its own internal governance to implement the required changes. Failure to do so could see India ostracized from the international football community for the second time in just three years, a devastating blow for the sport in the country.
