Lagatar24 desk
New Delhi, Aug 27: Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia on Saturday said that “it’s time to change the system” after world football governing body FIFA lifted the ban imposed on the AIFF.
The Supreme Court’s decision to revoke the Committee of Administrators’ (CoA) authority late on Friday has paved the way for India to host the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup in October thanks to the lifting of the ban on the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
“It’s a wonderful news. I welcome the decision of the FIFA to lift the suspension on AIFF. It’s a win for Indian football, nothing else,” Bhutia stated to PTI.
Because of “undue influence from third parties,” FIFA suspended the AIFF on August 15 and stated that the U-17 Women’s World Cup “cannot now be conducted in India as planned.” For the first time in the 85-year history of the AIFF, the suspension was only in effect for 11 days after the Supreme Court on Monday disbanded the three-member CoA that had been established by it in May, while also revising earlier orders to ensure that India would host the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup from October 11 to October 30.
The 45-year-old Bhutia, who has also submitted nomination papers for the AIFF president position in the elections scheduled for September 2, stated that it is essential to make changes in the nation’s football administration in order to prevent more suspensions.
“It’s also the right time to reflect, change, and reform the way Indian football is run. The system needs to be changed,” added former captain Bhutia, who, prior to his retirement in 2011, became the first Indian to appear in 100 matches for his nation.
