Supreme Court Approves AIFF Constitution, Clears Way for Stability Ahead of FIFA Deadline

In a significant development for Indian football, the Supreme Court on Friday approved the draft constitution of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with some modifications, directing the federation to hold a general body meeting within four weeks to formally adopt the revised document.

The ruling brings much-needed clarity and stability to the AIFF, which has been under scrutiny from global football bodies over its delayed constitutional reforms. The court also recognized the current executive committee, led by president Kalyan Chaubey, and confirmed that no fresh elections would be required. The existing office bearers can continue in their roles until the next scheduled elections in 2026.

This decision averts the risk of administrative uncertainty that could have disrupted the functioning of the federation.

The ruling comes at a crucial time, as both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had recently issued a warning to the AIFF. In their joint communication, the global and continental governing bodies stressed the urgency of ratifying the AIFF constitution by October 30, 2025, failing which India could face a potential suspension from international football activities.

With the Supreme Court’s endorsement and a timeline now in place for the adoption of the constitution, the AIFF can move forward in line with FIFA and AFC expectations, avoiding a repeat of the crisis that briefly saw India suspended in 2022 over third-party interference.

The constitution’s drafting process began in 2017 and has seen multiple rounds of revisions and consultations. The final draft was submitted to the apex court in July 2022, and Friday’s ruling marks the end of a prolonged period of legal and administrative limbo.

The Court’s approval and direction to convene a general body meeting within four weeks now puts the ball firmly in the AIFF’s court to ratify the new constitution in time.

The continuity of the current leadership is expected to provide stability in a period where Indian football is trying to grow domestically and improve its standing on the international stage.

The AIFF will now look to swiftly comply with the court’s orders, adopt the amended constitution, and communicate its implementation to FIFA and AFC well ahead of the October 30 deadline.