NEW DELHI (BN24) — India faces the looming threat of a second suspension from world football in just three years as FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) jointly warned the country to adopt a long-delayed football constitution by October 30, 2025, or risk being banned from international play.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey, FIFA and the AFC expressed “profound concern” over India’s failure to finalize and implement the revised AIFF constitution, which has been stuck in legal limbo at the Supreme Court since 2017. The international governing bodies said the delay undermines the rights and obligations of AIFF as a member federation and warned that non-compliance would trigger disciplinary proceedings.
“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 read, labelling the October deadline as binding and urgent.
If imposed, the suspension would bar India’s men’s and women’s national teams, as well as clubs, from taking part in any FIFA- or AFC-sanctioned competitions. It would also escalate a worsening crisis in Indian football, where the Indian Super League (ISL)—the country’s top-tier professional league—has already been hit by operational uncertainties.
The ISL season, traditionally held between September and April, has yet to kick off due to unresolved disputes between the AIFF and its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). Their existing rights agreement is set to expire on December 8, 2025, with no clear renewal strategy, putting the jobs of thousands of players, coaches, and support staff at risk.
India had previously faced a similar suspension in August 2022, when FIFA banned the AIFF over third-party interference after the Supreme Court appointed a committee of administrators to manage federation affairs. That ban was lifted within days, clearing the way for Kalyan Chaubey’s election as AIFF president. However, the underlying constitutional reform demanded by FIFA and the AFC remains unresolved.
The growing turmoil has also drawn the attention of FIFPRO Asia/Oceania, the global players’ union, which has raised concerns with FIFA over the welfare of players and the long-term sustainability of football in India.
As the deadline looms, the future of Indian football hangs in the balance, with international participation, league operations, and grassroots development all at stake.
