Indian football is facing the risk of suspension from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after both bodies issued a joint ultimatum to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) demanding the adoption and ratification of a new constitution by October 30, 2025. The letter, addressed to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey on August 26, expressed “profound concern” over the federation’s prolonged delay in finalizing its constitution, a matter that has been pending before the Supreme Court since 2017. FIFA and AFC warned that failure to meet the deadline could lead to suspension, barring national teams and clubs from all international competitions and jeopardizing India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad.
The world governing bodies instructed the AIFF to secure a definitive order from the Supreme Court approving the revised constitution, ensure its alignment with mandatory FIFA and AFC statutes, and obtain formal ratification at the next AIFF General Body meeting. The letter emphasized that non-compliance would compel FIFA and AFC to refer the matter to their decision-making bodies, including the possibility of suspension.
The AIFF has faced repeated governance crises. In August 2022, FIFA suspended India for “third-party interference” after a Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators temporarily ran the federation. That suspension was lifted within two weeks after the committee was dissolved and Chaubey won the elections, defeating former footballer Bhaichung Bhutia. The current concern arises from the continued absence of a clear governance framework, which FIFA and AFC described as creating an untenable vacuum and legal uncertainty at the core of Indian football.
The impasse has already affected domestic football operations. Clubs and players face uncertainty over the domestic competition calendar, and commercial partnerships beyond December 2025 remain unconfirmed. Essential functions relating to development, competitions, and marketing are increasingly compromised, raising concerns about the financial stability of the football ecosystem. Reports from FIFPRO indicated that several clubs have unilaterally terminated player contracts, directly affecting players’ livelihoods and careers.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case concerning the Master Rights Agreement between AIFF and its commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) on August 28, 2025. The agreement, which governs commercial rights for the Indian Super League (ISL), expires on December 8. FSDL recently put the upcoming season on hold, citing uncertainty over the Master Rights Agreement renewal, which has forced at least three clubs to suspend operations or delay salaries and prompted all 11 ISL clubs to warn of an “existential crisis.” On August 22, the Supreme Court allowed AIFF and FSDL to hold talks to explore interim measures to start the season on time. Chaubey said the federation would endeavor to arrive at mutually agreeable solutions with FSDL in good faith, while clubs pushed for an early judgment to prevent further disruption to players, staff, and the football calendar.
FIFA and AFC officials highlighted that the ongoing governance crisis has precipitated a “profoundly negative impact” on Indian football. They stressed that the AIFF must implement the revised constitution to safeguard the operational and financial integrity of the sport in the country. The federation now faces a strict timeline to secure Supreme Court approval, ensure compliance with international statutes, and ratify the constitution in order to avoid suspension and maintain India’s participation in global football.
