Governance in Indian Sports: The AIFF Crisis and the Role of the Judiciary
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance (Role of Judiciary, National Sports Code); Current events of national and international importance.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (Governance & Social Justice): Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors; Important aspects of governance. The issue of governance in sports federations is a recurring and important topic.
Key Highlights from the News
The Indian Super League (ISL), which was in uncertainty due to a dispute between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), is set to resume with the intervention of the Supreme Court.
A major reason for this crisis is the Supreme Court's ongoing oversight of a case related to the AIFF's constitutional reforms.
It was agreed, as per the court's directive, to conduct an open, competitive and transparent tender to find a new commercial partner for operating the ISL.
FIFA, the international football organization, and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) have given the AIFF an ultimatum to approve its new constitution by October 30.
This new constitution must comply with the newly passed National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
This incident highlights administrative failures in sports organizations, Supreme Court interventions, and pressure from international organizations.
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