Indian Volleyball In Chaos: FIVB Suspends VFI Amid Player Revolt, Governance Crisis

Last Updated:April 22, 2026, 08:43 IST

FIVB revokes VFI recognition over governance failures as Indian players quit camp citing poor facilities and “politics,” plunging the sport into crisis ahead of key tournaments.

It was football, then athletics… and now, Indian volleyball has been thrown into turmoil.

The Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) has revoked the Volleyball Federation of India’s (VFI) recognition with immediate effect, citing serious breaches of “legal and administrative requirements."

The move comes just days after two senior players walked out of the national camp, alleging poor facilities and questionable selection practices.

Why FIVB Took Action

In a strongly worded statement, the FIVB said the interim leadership of the Volleyball Federation of India failed to meet governance standards.

“The legal and administrative requirements established by the FIVB have not been respected… As such, the VFI’s provisional recognition has been revoked with immediate effect."

The federation had only been granted eight months of provisional recognition, subject to compliance.

Steering Committee Takes Charge

With VFI sidelined, control now rests with a Steering Committee comprising members from the Indian Olympic Association and the FIVB.

Their mandate? Stabilise Indian volleyball and protect athletes.

The committee will oversee the formation of an Athletes’ Commission, state association elections, constitutional reforms, and transparent, merit-based team selection.

They will also coordinate competitions and bring in international coaching support under the FIVB’s development programme.

Player Exit Exposes Deeper Issues

The crisis intensified after two senior players, Anand K and John Joseph, quit the national camp in Ahmedabad over “poor and unscientific facilities", “incompetent coaches", the removal of Serbian coach Dragan Mihailovic and politics in selection.

“There is no analysis, no recovery… the coaches don’t know anything, they are living in the 1950s," Anand stated to PTI.

He also revealed that players were asked to apologise for raising concerns — something he and his teammate refused, despite risking bans.

The VFI has denied all allegations, calling it “politics at play."

Financial Backing Still Intact

Despite the chaos, the FIVB has reaffirmed its commitment to Indian volleyball, pledging ₹2.1 crore (approx.) for 2026 through its Volleyball Empowerment Programme.

The focus remains on athlete welfare and high-performance development across men’s and women’s teams.

India is also set to host the AVC Men’s Cup in Ahmedabad from June 20–28, and uncertainty now hangs over preparations.

(with PTI inputs)

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