'No Bureaucrats': SC Finalizes AIFF Constitution With Age Cap And Bar On Ministers

Last Updated:September 20, 2025, 12:19 IST

The Supreme Court also imposed an age cap of 70 years, while reducing the benchmark for the eminent players category.

AIFF logo. (PC: X)

The Supreme Court of India gave the nod to the AIFF constitution with a focus on barring ministers and bureaucrats from taking up positions at the governing body, and has also imposed an age cap of 70 years.

Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi instructed the AIFF to take note of its recommendations and draft and enforce the same within a period of three weeks, giving the governing body ample time to convene a meeting and adopt the constitution before FIFA’s threat of yet another suspension is imposed.

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AIFF had requested the non-exclusion of public servants, MPs and MLAs, who could have expertise in the management of football. However, the bench of justices said that anyone who is a minister or a government servant would not be eligible to be an office bearer of AIFF in their judgment.

Justice Narasimha said the 15 eminent football players in the AIFF general body would have voting rights and rejected the state association’s opposition to their voting right.

“The argument of state associations regarding transgression of FIFA Statute lacks merit in as much as the Standard Statutes 2005 itself suggests the inclusion of experienced players with voting rights," the bench said.

The justices also added that the model Sports Code does not prohibit eminent players from having more than 25% voting right.

The bench also clarified that if public servants manage to obtain the required permission, they would be eligible to serve in the AIFF governing body, but rejected petitioners’ plea for exclusion of office bearers of National Sports Federation from holding posts in AIFF.

SC also informed that AIFF officials would be disqualified if convicted and sentenced for more than two years, mirroring the norms applicable to MPs and MLAs.

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According to the draft composition of AIFF, the general body would include a representative from every member association, 15 eminent players including five women elected from a national players body, three club representatives from ISL, I-League and Indian Women’s League, a male and a female representative from referees and two male and female coaches.

The SC also highlighted that the approved constitution might be given a go-by, by officials if safety valves are not put in place.

The court also reduced the benchmark for ’eminent players’, bringing down the requisite to five international caps for men and two for women.

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