FIFA lifts suspension of AIFF, India to remain host for U-17 Women's World Cup 2022

"The Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to lift the suspension that was imposed on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) due to undue third-party influence," FIFA wrote in its official release.

"The decision was taken after FIFA received confirmation that the mandate of the committee of administrators that was set up to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee had been terminated and that the AIFF administration had regained full control of the AIFF's daily affairs," it said.

"FIFA and the AFC will continue to monitor the situation and will support the AIFF in organising its elections in a timely manner," FIFA wrote.

"As a consequence, the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022 scheduled to take place on 11-30 October 2022 will be held in India as planned," the statement concluded.

The international football governing body had earlier slapped a suspension on AIFF on Aug 15 for "undue influence from third parties".

It had then said the U-17 Women's World Cup "cannot currently be held in India as planned".

On Tuesday, AIFF's acting general secretary Sunando Dhar requested FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura to “reconsider their decision of suspending" the governing body of Indian football.

In a letter to the FIFA official Dhar while providing an update on the litigation before the Supreme Court of India mentioned that “It is with immense pleasure that we inform you that the Supreme Court of India (the “SC”) took up our matter and order dated 22.05.2022 was pleased to pass directions regarding the full repeal of the CoA mandate and consequently the AIFF having full charge of the AIFF’s daily affairs.”