AIFF To Delay Elections By Three Months As FIFA Gives 'No Objection': Report

Last Updated:April 05, 2026, 08:43 IST

FIFA approves AIFF plan to delay elections to December 2026 so it can align its constitution with the new National Sports Governance Act, with reforms due across all member bodies

FIFA has informed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that it has ‘no objection’ to the federation postponing its elections from September to December 2026, as per a report in Times of India. This extension will give the AIFF sufficient time to fully align its constitution with the new National Sports Governance Act (NSGA) 2025 and its related rules.

AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey was elected on September 2, 2022, for a four-year term. While elections were originally expected before the end of his tenure, the introduction of the NSGA prompted the federation to seek additional time. The AIFF stated that allowing the current administration to continue in office until later this year would help ensure the smooth and uninterrupted running of football in the country.

One-Time Extension Allowed?

In an official communication, AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan outlined the government’s position: “On Dec 22, 2025, the ministry of youth affairs and sports issued a notice recognising that the structural changes required for all national sports federations to fully align with the NSGA are foundational in nature. In order to facilitate compliance with the provisions of the NSGA, the ministry of youth affairs and sports allowed a one-time extension to national sports federations whose elections are due in this calendar year, allowing such federations to conduct their next elections by Dec 31".

…And FIFA Is Okay With It?

FIFA has endorsed this approach and stressed the importance of continued coordination. “We kindly ask that you keep FIFA and the AFC informed of any further steps in the amendment process of the AIFF constitution, and in particular to share with us a document outlining the key amendments and necessary steps required with tentative timelines to ensure compliance with the NSGA," Emile Doms, Member Associations Governance Services Manager at FIFA, wrote to the federation last week.

Meanwhile, the AIFF has instructed its member associations to adopt the required constitutional amendments by June 30, 2026, to ensure uniform governance standards across state and district football bodies in India.

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