Indian football stands at a moment of reckoning. The Indian Super League (ISL), once celebrated as the flagship project to modernise the game, has been thrown into uncertainty. What was supposed to be the sport’s most stable and glamorous platform is now caught in a tug-of-war between the federation, its commercial partners, and the country’s highest court. The result is paralysis at every level—from clubs suspending operations to players waiting anxiously for clarity.&nbsp;&nbsp;The standoff is not merely a contractual dispute. It represents something deeper: the tension between governance and commerce. On one side, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is bound by constitutional reform and the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. On the other hand, the commercial rights holder and participating clubs demand continuity, financial certainty, and predictability. For years, the league managed to balance both forces, but with legal oversight intensifying, the contradictions have finally come to the surface.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pkl-2025-we-worked-on-our-shortcomings-this-season-we-aim-for-the-title-up-yoddhas-coach-jasveer-singh-1755857435266">PKL 2025 — 'We worked on our shortcomings, this season we aim for the title': UP Yoddhas coach Jasveer Singh</a>&nbsp;The immediate fallout is grim. Clubs are operating in crisis mode, with budgets frozen and salaries delayed. For players and staff, the uncertainty is more than an inconvenience—it strikes at the very heart of their careers. Fans, too, are left stranded. The ISL had spent a decade positioning itself as a symbol of professionalism, but this sudden collapse of order reveals how fragile the edifice really was.&nbsp;So where does Indian football go from here? The road ahead can be imagined in three broad scenarios. In the best case, the Supreme Court delivers a clear and decisive ruling that allows the league to resume quickly, whether by reaffirming existing contracts or by sanctioning a new framework. This would not eliminate the mistrust that has built up among stakeholders, but it would at least bring immediate relief and enable the season to begin. A darker possibility is prolonged limbo. If the legal wrangling drags on and the season is cancelled, the damage will be immense. Clubs that were already financially stretched could collapse. Investors and sponsors, spooked by the uncertainty, may walk away. The credibility of the ISL, and by extension Indian football, would take a severe blow.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shikarawala-mohsin-ali-wins-first-gold-for-jammu-and-kashmir-in-ongoing-khelo-india-water-sports-festival-1755863555142">Shikarawala Mohsin Ali wins first Gold for Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing Khelo India Water Sports festival</a>&nbsp;There is also a third, more constructive possibility. Out of this crisis, Indian football could be forced into a long-overdue structural reset. A new governance model that balances the interests of the federation, commercial partners, and clubs could emerge. Such an arrangement would not only bring the sport closer to the best practices of European leagues but would also make the system more resilient. The idea of shared ownership and transparent structures could be the silver lining of what now looks like chaos.&nbsp;The lessons from this moment are hard to ignore. First, flashy branding and commercial investment cannot substitute for strong institutions. The ISL grew rapidly in visibility, but its foundations in governance were never solid. Second, player welfare cannot be left at the mercy of disputes between administrators and investors. Mechanisms must be built to ensure salaries and contracts are protected, regardless of boardroom battles. And finally, fans—who are the ultimate stakeholders—deserve better. Their trust has been tested before; another breakdown risks alienating the very base the league worked so hard to create.&nbsp;What happens next will depend on the verdict from the Supreme Court on August 28 and the willingness of stakeholders to act with foresight. The court can decide the fate of contracts, but it cannot rebuild trust or vision. That task rests with the administrators and clubs who must now decide whether they want to patch up old arrangements or genuinely reform the system. Indian football is staring at a fork in the road. Down one path lies short-term fixes, fragile deals, and recurring crises. Down the other lies reform, stability, and credibility. The choice made now will determine not just whether the next ISL season happens, but whether Indian football has the resilience to grow into the future.

Indian Super League in limbo: Can Indian football turn crisis into reform?

Indian football stands at a moment of reckoning. The Indian Super League (ISL), once celebrated as the flagship project to modernise the game, has been thrown into uncertainty. What was supposed to be the sport’s most stable and glamorous platform is now caught in a tug-of-war between the federation, its commercial partners, and the country’s highest court. The result is paralysis at every level—from clubs suspending operations to players waiting anxiously for clarity. The standoff is not merely a contractual dispute. It represents something deeper: the tension between governance and commerce. On one side, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is bound by constitutional reform and the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. On the other hand, the commercial rights holder and participating clubs demand continuity, financial certainty, and predictability. For years, the league managed to balance both forces, but with legal oversight intensifying, the contradictions have finally come to the surface. Also Read: PKL 2025 — 'We worked on our shortcomings, this season we aim for the title': UP Yoddhas coach Jasveer Singh The immediate fallout is grim. Clubs are operating in crisis mode, with budgets frozen and salaries delayed. For players and staff, the uncertainty is more than an inconvenience—it strikes at the very heart of their careers. Fans, too, are left stranded. The ISL had spent a decade positioning itself as a symbol of professionalism, but this sudden collapse of order reveals how fragile the edifice really was. So where does Indian football go from here? The road ahead can be imagined in three broad scenarios. In the best case, the Supreme Court delivers a clear and decisive ruling that allows the league to resume quickly, whether by reaffirming existing contracts or by sanctioning a new framework. This would not eliminate the mistrust that has built up among stakeholders, but it would at least bring immediate relief and enable the season to begin. A darker possibility is prolonged limbo. If the legal wrangling drags on and the season is cancelled, the damage will be immense. Clubs that were already financially stretched could collapse. Investors and sponsors, spooked by the uncertainty, may walk away. The credibility of the ISL, and by extension Indian football, would take a severe blow. Also Read: Shikarawala Mohsin Ali wins first Gold for Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing Khelo India Water Sports festival There is also a third, more constructive possibility. Out of this crisis, Indian football could be forced into a long-overdue structural reset. A new governance model that balances the interests of the federation, commercial partners, and clubs could emerge. Such an arrangement would not only bring the sport closer to the best practices of European leagues but would also make the system more resilient. The idea of shared ownership and transparent structures could be the silver lining of what now looks like chaos. The lessons from this moment are hard to ignore. First, flashy branding and commercial investment cannot substitute for strong institutions. The ISL grew rapidly in visibility, but its foundations in governance were never solid. Second, player welfare cannot be left at the mercy of disputes between administrators and investors. Mechanisms must be built to ensure salaries and contracts are protected, regardless of boardroom battles. And finally, fans—who are the ultimate stakeholders—deserve better. Their trust has been tested before; another breakdown risks alienating the very base the league worked so hard to create. What happens next will depend on the verdict from the Supreme Court on August 28 and the willingness of stakeholders to act with foresight. The court can decide the fate of contracts, but it cannot rebuild trust or vision. That task rests with the administrators and clubs who must now decide whether they want to patch up old arrangements or genuinely reform the system. Indian football is staring at a fork in the road. Down one path lies short-term fixes, fragile deals, and recurring crises. Down the other lies reform, stability, and credibility. The choice made now will determine not just whether the next ISL season happens, but whether Indian football has the resilience to grow into the future.

On Friday (August 22), the Supreme Court of India directed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) to come up with a solution by next week. The next hearing is scheduled for August 28

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) convened a crucial meeting with Indian Super League (ISL) clubs in New Delhi on Thursday (August 7) to chart the roadmap for the upcoming 2025–2026 season. Chaired by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, the meeting included 13 club CEOs, representatives from Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), and other top AIFF officials.&nbsp;The federation reassured stakeholders that the Indian Super League would continue to be hosted in India and proposed that the Super Cup be held before the league kicks off. The move is aimed at aligning the domestic calendar to conclude by May 31, 2026, in compliance with AFC eligibility guidelines.&nbsp;"Football is a matter of national interest. Individuals may change, but the game must go on," said the AIFF president. “Given the pre-season requirements and the tight calendar, the Super Cup is expected to take place before the ISL to provide clubs with six to eight weeks of pre-season.”&nbsp;Meanwhile, Chaubey assured that all football activities and tournaments will proceed as committed. He said, “We have 22 national tournaments (including ISL), with over 1,800 matches played last year. Football in India will continue uninterrupted, like, Madhya Pradesh, the U17 women’s and the U23 men’s national teams which are camping in Bengaluru, and the U20 women’s national team, which is currently playing the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in Myanmar, and the AIFF Futsal Club Championship, which began on August 3, in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand." A follow-up meeting is expected in the coming week to finalise the Super Cup’s schedule and logistics.Chaubey also reaffirmed AIFF’s commitment to uninterrupted football activities, noting the federation conducted 22 national tournaments and over 1,800 matches last year. Ongoing activities such as national team camps and the AIFF Futsal Club Championship in Rudrapur underscore the busy calendar.

Uncertainty lingers over ISLs future as AIFF proposes Super Cup from September

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) convened a crucial meeting with Indian Super League (ISL) clubs in New Delhi on Thursday (August 7) to chart the roadmap for the upcoming 2025–2026 season. Chaired by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, the meeting included 13 club CEOs, representatives from Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), and other top AIFF officials. The federation reassured stakeholders that the Indian Super League would continue to be hosted in India and proposed that the Super Cup be held before the league kicks off. The move is aimed at aligning the domestic calendar to conclude by May 31, 2026, in compliance with AFC eligibility guidelines. "Football is a matter of national interest. Individuals may change, but the game must go on," said the AIFF president. “Given the pre-season requirements and the tight calendar, the Super Cup is expected to take place before the ISL to provide clubs with six to eight weeks of pre-season.” Meanwhile, Chaubey assured that all football activities and tournaments will proceed as committed. He said, “We have 22 national tournaments (including ISL), with over 1,800 matches played last year. Football in India will continue uninterrupted, like, Madhya Pradesh, the U17 women’s and the U23 men’s national teams which are camping in Bengaluru, and the U20 women’s national team, which is currently playing the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in Myanmar, and the AIFF Futsal Club Championship, which began on August 3, in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand." A follow-up meeting is expected in the coming week to finalise the Super Cup’s schedule and logistics. Chaubey also reaffirmed AIFF’s commitment to uninterrupted football activities, noting the federation conducted 22 national tournaments and over 1,800 matches last year. Ongoing activities such as national team camps and the AIFF Futsal Club Championship in Rudrapur underscore the busy calendar.

A follow-up meeting is expected in the next 7–10 days to finalise the Super Cup kick-off date and related logistics

Uncertainty lingers over ISL's future as AIFF proposes Super Cup from September

Indian football saw another low on Tuesday (June 10) as they lost 1-0 to Hong Kong in the Asian Cup qualification. The defeat has seen India set a new low as they now face a tough task to even book their place in the continental showpiece. In the aftermath of the defeat, the blame game has started to take place with former captain Bhaichung Bhutia slamming All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Kalyan Chaubey, claiming he has destroyed Indian football.<h2>Bhaichung Bhutia slams Kalyan Chaubey</h2>"It's very painful to see we're now struggling to even qualify for the Asia Cup, which we had been regularly making it to," Bhutia told PTI, his frustration mirroring that of fans across the country.&nbsp;"Countries like Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Jordan have qualified for the World Cup, and we're still battling for a place in the Asia Cup. It's very unfortunate," he added, pointing to India's stagnation in comparison to their Asian peers.&nbsp;Playing at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, India conceded a 94th minute winner, meaning the Blue Tigers sit bottom of the table. After failing to qualify for the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, India have now gone winless in the two qualifying matches, raising question marks on the quality of football in the nation.&nbsp;After a stale 90 minutes at the newly constructed Kai Tak Stadium, it was a 94th minute penalty that settled the contest. A late penalty converted by Stefan Pereira decided the match after Indian goalkeeper Vishal Kaith fouled Hong Kong’s Michael Udebuluzor in the box.&nbsp;The defeat leaves more questions than answers for the Indian football, who now sit bottom of the standings in the Asian Cup qualification.&nbsp;At the time of writing, India have lost one and drawn one and have the same number of points as Bangladesh. With each team set to play six matches in the qualification phase, India’s qualification will be in jeopardy if they fail to win in their upcoming matches.&nbsp;The Indian team recently lost to Afghanistan in a World Cup qualifier match, which ended their path to the 2026 tournament. That was followed by a draw against Bangladesh, who now have football stars like Hamza Choudhury.

Indian football saw another low on Tuesday (June 10) as they lost 1-0 to Hong Kong in the Asian Cup qualification. 

Indian football saw another low on Tuesday (June 10) as they lost 1-0 to Hong Kong in the Asian Cup qualification. The defeat has seen India set a new low as they now face a tough task to even book their place in the continental showpiece. In the aftermath of the defeat, the blame game has started to take place with former captain Bhaichung Bhutia slamming All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Kalyan Chaubey, claiming he has destroyed Indian football. Bhaichung Bhutia slams Kalyan Chaubey "It's very painful to see we're now struggling to even qualify for the Asia Cup, which we had been regularly making it to," Bhutia told PTI, his frustration mirroring that of fans across the country. "Countries like Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Jordan have qualified for the World Cup, and we're still battling for a place in the Asia Cup. It's very unfortunate," he added, pointing to India's stagnation in comparison to their Asian peers. Playing at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, India conceded a 94th minute winner, meaning the Blue Tigers sit bottom of the table. After failing to qualify for the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, India have now gone winless in the two qualifying matches, raising question marks on the quality of football in the nation. After a stale 90 minutes at the newly constructed Kai Tak Stadium, it was a 94th minute penalty that settled the contest. A late penalty converted by Stefan Pereira decided the match after Indian goalkeeper Vishal Kaith fouled Hong Kong’s Michael Udebuluzor in the box. The defeat leaves more questions than answers for the Indian football, who now sit bottom of the standings in the Asian Cup qualification. At the time of writing, India have lost one and drawn one and have the same number of points as Bangladesh. With each team set to play six matches in the qualification phase, India’s qualification will be in jeopardy if they fail to win in their upcoming matches. The Indian team recently lost to Afghanistan in a World Cup qualifier match, which ended their path to the 2026 tournament. That was followed by a draw against Bangladesh, who now have football stars like Hamza Choudhury.

Indian football saw another low on Tuesday (June 10) as they lost 1-0 to Hong Kong in the Asian Cup qualification.&nbsp;

Destroyed Indian football! Former captain Bhaichung Bhutia slams Kalyan Chaubey after latest debacle

Spaniard Manolo Marquez has become the new head coach of the Indian men’s football side after he succeeded Igor Stimac on Saturday (July 20).&nbsp;The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced&nbsp;that&nbsp;Marquez will take over as the new coach while he is still working at the Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa. He has been in India since 2020 and according to AIFF has the necessary vision to take Indian men’s football to the next level.

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Manolo Marquez appointed head coach of Senior Men’s National Team! 
 
Read full details here 👉🏻 <a href="https://t.co/iUUMAwB8vk">https://t.co/iUUMAwB8vk</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianFootball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianFootball</a> ⚽️ <a href="https://t.co/Ni9beyul8B">pic.twitter.com/Ni9beyul8B</a>
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<h2>Manolo Marquez becomes new India head coach</h2>

AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey stated: “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Marquez to this important role and are also thankful to FC Goa for their generosity in releasing him for national duty. We look forward to working with Mr. Marquez in the years ahead. The AIFF, FC Goa, and Mr. Marquez will collaborate closely to ensure there is minimal impact between the two jobs and strive to achieve the best possible results for all involved.”

Stimac, the former coach, was dismissed after India failed to progress to the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. After a controversial defeat to Qatar in their final second-round qualifier contest, India finished third for which Stimac paid the price. India had also lost to minnows Afghanistan in March after which there was a huge unrest between Stimac and the AIFF.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suryakumar-yadav-reflects-on-t20i-captaincy-appointment-last-few-weeks-have-been-nothing-short-of-dream-742583">Suryakumar Yadav reflects on T20I captaincy appointment - ‘Last few weeks have been nothing short of dream’</a>

<h2>Start of a new era</h2>

Marquez brings tons of experience to the table, having also managed Spanish La Liga side Las Palmas in one of his illustrious coaching spells. He has been in India since 2020 having taken charge of Hyderabad FC before leaving for Goa in 2023 bringing his three-year stint to an end. An agreement was reached between FC Goa and the AIFF before the announcement as he will continue to coach the coastline club at the start of the 2024-25 season before taking charge of the Indian side.

Spaniard Manolo Marquez has become the new head coach of the Indian men’s football side after he succeeded Igor Stimac on Saturday (July 20). The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced that Marquez will take over as the new coach while he is still working at the Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa.

Spaniard Manolo Marquez has become the new head coach of the Indian men’s football side after he succeeded Igor Stimac on Saturday (July 20). The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced that Marquez will take over as the new coach while he is still working at the Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa. He has been in India since 2020 and according to AIFF has the necessary vision to take Indian men’s football to the next level. Manolo Marquez appointed head coach of Senior Men’s National Team! Read full details here 👉🏻 https://t.co/iUUMAwB8vk#IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Ni9beyul8B — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 20, 2024 × Manolo Marquez becomes new India head coach AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey stated: “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Marquez to this important role and are also thankful to FC Goa for their generosity in releasing him for national duty. We look forward to working with Mr. Marquez in the years ahead. The AIFF, FC Goa, and Mr. Marquez will collaborate closely to ensure there is minimal impact between the two jobs and strive to achieve the best possible results for all involved.” Stimac, the former coach, was dismissed after India failed to progress to the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. After a controversial defeat to Qatar in their final second-round qualifier contest, India finished third for which Stimac paid the price. India had also lost to minnows Afghanistan in March after which there was a huge unrest between Stimac and the AIFF. ALSO READ | Suryakumar Yadav reflects on T20I captaincy appointment - ‘Last few weeks have been nothing short of dream’ Start of a new era Marquez brings tons of experience to the table, having also managed Spanish La Liga side Las Palmas in one of his illustrious coaching spells. He has been in India since 2020 having taken charge of Hyderabad FC before leaving for Goa in 2023 bringing his three-year stint to an end. An agreement was reached between FC Goa and the AIFF before the announcement as he will continue to coach the coastline club at the start of the 2024-25 season before taking charge of the Indian side.

Spaniard Manolo Marquez succeeds Igor Stimac as new Indian men's football team head coach

A member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF)&nbsp;has been accused of assaulting two women footballers whilst being drunk, according to multiple media reports. The shocking development came to light after the alleged victims filed a complaint with the AIFF's competitions committee on Friday (Mar 29).&nbsp;

According to the complaint, the accused has been identified as Deepak Sharma, the&nbsp;general secretary of Himachal Pradesh Football Association, an executive committee member of the AIFF,&nbsp;the deputy chairperson of the competition committee and chairperson of its infrastructure committee.

The complaint filed by Palak Verma and Ritika Thakur alleges that Deepak entered their room in an inebriated state, while they were boiling eggs for dinner. The high-ranking official then allegedly slapped both of them after getting offended.&nbsp;

Notably, Verma and Thakur are part of the women's team that is currently in Goa to take part in the&nbsp;Women’s League 2 -- the second division of women’s football in India. Both the footballers play for Khad FC, a team from the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.&nbsp;

<h2>Sharma denies the allegations</h2>

As the controversy surrounding his name snowballed,&nbsp;Sharma released a statement claiming it was a small issue which was not serious in nature.&nbsp;

“It is all baseless. Someone is trying to provoke them and create an issue out of nothing. She just got eggs from outside around 11 pm. I just scolded her over timings. It was a small issue," Sharma was quoted as saying by India Today.

“It happened on March 28 evening. My wife was with me as well when the incident happened. I had a conversation with AIFF as well and briefed them about everything. There is nothing serious about it,” he added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/embarrassing-shambolic-fans-seethe-after-afghanistan-beat-india-2-1-in-world-cup-qualifiers-watch-704566">Also read |&nbsp;‘Embarrassing, shambolic’: Fans seethe after Afghanistan beat India 2-1 in World Cup Qualifiers</a>

Quizzed about the accusations, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey played it safe, saying proper guidelines would be followed to investigate the matter as it was necessary to "hear both sides".&nbsp;

"I recently heard that the normal procedure of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) will be followed as per the constitution. We will follow the guidelines," said Chaubey.&nbsp;

AIFF has been in choppy waters over the last few months over its handling of footballing affairs in the country. The men's national team has not made any noticeable improvements and the recent loss to Afghanistan in the World Cup Qualifiers'&nbsp;further dented AIFF's reputation that it was unwilling to take strong calls.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

A member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been accused of assaulting two women footballers whilst being drunk, according to multiple media reports.

A member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been accused of assaulting two women footballers whilst being drunk, according to multiple media reports. The shocking development came to light after the alleged victims filed a complaint with the AIFF's competitions committee on Friday (Mar 29). According to the complaint, the accused has been identified as Deepak Sharma, the general secretary of Himachal Pradesh Football Association, an executive committee member of the AIFF, the deputy chairperson of the competition committee and chairperson of its infrastructure committee. The complaint filed by Palak Verma and Ritika Thakur alleges that Deepak entered their room in an inebriated state, while they were boiling eggs for dinner. The high-ranking official then allegedly slapped both of them after getting offended. Notably, Verma and Thakur are part of the women's team that is currently in Goa to take part in the Women’s League 2 -- the second division of women’s football in India. Both the footballers play for Khad FC, a team from the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Sharma denies the allegations As the controversy surrounding his name snowballed, Sharma released a statement claiming it was a small issue which was not serious in nature. “It is all baseless. Someone is trying to provoke them and create an issue out of nothing. She just got eggs from outside around 11 pm. I just scolded her over timings. It was a small issue," Sharma was quoted as saying by India Today. “It happened on March 28 evening. My wife was with me as well when the incident happened. I had a conversation with AIFF as well and briefed them about everything. There is nothing serious about it,” he added. Also read | ‘Embarrassing, shambolic’: Fans seethe after Afghanistan beat India 2-1 in World Cup Qualifiers Quizzed about the accusations, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey played it safe, saying proper guidelines would be followed to investigate the matter as it was necessary to "hear both sides". "I recently heard that the normal procedure of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) will be followed as per the constitution. We will follow the guidelines," said Chaubey. AIFF has been in choppy waters over the last few months over its handling of footballing affairs in the country. The men's national team has not made any noticeable improvements and the recent loss to Afghanistan in the World Cup Qualifiers' further dented AIFF's reputation that it was unwilling to take strong calls. (With inputs from agencies)

Two women footballers accuse ‘drunk’ AIFF official of physically assaulting them

The All&nbsp;India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday (Nov 8) announced it had sacked Shaji Prabhakaran from the post of&nbsp;secretary general&nbsp;citing a breach of trust.&nbsp;

The governing body for football in India released a press statement informing about its decision, adding that&nbsp;M Satyanarayan would take over Prabhakaran's post in the meantime.

“The All India Football Federation hereby announces that the services of Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran have been terminated due to breach of trust with immediate effect as of November 7, 2023,” read the statement.

“The AIFF Deputy Secretary, Mr M Satyanarayan, will take charge as Acting Secretary General of AIFF with immediate effect,” it added.

Notably, the decision was taken by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey who said&nbsp;Prabhakaran's work had led to 'resentment' among the bureaucratic setup.

“There was a lot of resentment about his functioning among the members of the AIFF which forced us to terminate his contract," Chaubey was quoted as saying by Sportstar.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/isl-2023-24-celebrates-the-growth-of-indian-football-in-landmark-10th-year-campaign-636431">Also read |&nbsp;ISL 2023-24 celebrates the growth of Indian football in landmark 10th-year campaign</a>

<h2>Why has Prabhakaran been sacked?</h2>

Prabhakaran's sacking comes a little over a year after he was appointed to the role, replacing Kushal Das, last September.&nbsp;

Prabhakaran was reportedly aware of the impending sacking as he posted a cryptic message on X (formerly known as Twitter), a day before his sacking.&nbsp;

"We have to remain true to our game and when we have the position of power and influence then our responsibility is far higher to do our work with sincerity and dedication without any personal interests," Prabhakaran wrote.&nbsp;

"Never allow personal interests to dominate the mind and decisions. Let’s focus on our mission to transform football and make India proud. There can’t be a bigger satisfaction in life than to see India shining on the pitch on a bigger stage," he added.&nbsp;

Interestingly, when a user asked Prabhakaran why Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was not being used in Indian football leagues, he replied saying: "We don’t have funds."

According to media reports, one of the reasons for&nbsp;Prabhakaran's sacking was his public complaint of paucity of funds in the federation for the implementation of VAR.&nbsp;

It was under&nbsp;Prabhakaran's tenure that AIFF took the final stage of the once-prestigious Santosh Trophy to Saudi Arabia to fast-track its revival. Additionally, the men's national&nbsp;team also broke into the top 100 FIFA rankings for the first time since 2018.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday (Nov 8) announced it had sacked Shaji Prabhakaran from the post of secretary general citing a breach of trust.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday (Nov 8) announced it had sacked Shaji Prabhakaran from the post of secretary general citing a breach of trust. The governing body for football in India released a press statement informing about its decision, adding that M Satyanarayan would take over Prabhakaran's post in the meantime. “The All India Football Federation hereby announces that the services of Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran have been terminated due to breach of trust with immediate effect as of November 7, 2023,” read the statement. “The AIFF Deputy Secretary, Mr M Satyanarayan, will take charge as Acting Secretary General of AIFF with immediate effect,” it added. Notably, the decision was taken by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey who said Prabhakaran's work had led to 'resentment' among the bureaucratic setup. “There was a lot of resentment about his functioning among the members of the AIFF which forced us to terminate his contract," Chaubey was quoted as saying by Sportstar. Also read | ISL 2023-24 celebrates the growth of Indian football in landmark 10th-year campaign Why has Prabhakaran been sacked? Prabhakaran's sacking comes a little over a year after he was appointed to the role, replacing Kushal Das, last September. Prabhakaran was reportedly aware of the impending sacking as he posted a cryptic message on X (formerly known as Twitter), a day before his sacking. "We have to remain true to our game and when we have the position of power and influence then our responsibility is far higher to do our work with sincerity and dedication without any personal interests," Prabhakaran wrote. "Never allow personal interests to dominate the mind and decisions. Let’s focus on our mission to transform football and make India proud. There can’t be a bigger satisfaction in life than to see India shining on the pitch on a bigger stage," he added. Interestingly, when a user asked Prabhakaran why Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was not being used in Indian football leagues, he replied saying: "We don’t have funds." According to media reports, one of the reasons for Prabhakaran's sacking was his public complaint of paucity of funds in the federation for the implementation of VAR. It was under Prabhakaran's tenure that AIFF took the final stage of the once-prestigious Santosh Trophy to Saudi Arabia to fast-track its revival. Additionally, the men's national team also broke into the top 100 FIFA rankings for the first time since 2018. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian football: AIFF sacks Shaji Prabhakaran as secretary general for 'breach of trust'

The fresh-faced AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey recently held a discussion with FIFA chief&nbsp;Gianni Infantino to discuss plans and strategies to further the cause of Indian football on a global scale. The former&nbsp;goalkeeper was accompanied by Secretary General&nbsp;Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran during his interaction with Infantino.

The trio linked up in Doha, Qatar. A major takeaway from the discussion was the fact that the FIFA chief agreed to chart a course to India in the near future to presumably assess the prospects of the sport and its scope for growth and development in the country.

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"AIFF President Mr. Kalyan Chaubey and Secretary General Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran called upon FIFA President Mr. Gianni Infantino at the FIFA Office in Doha, Qatar on Friday, Sept 9, 2022. They had an encouraging and constructive meeting with the FIFA President on the future development of Indian Football.

"Discussions were held on key aspects of development of Indian football, and areas that require priority focus. All the possible high-impact projects and programmes concerning Indian football will be finalised before the FIFA President's visit to India," said the statement that was released by the AIFF.

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Chaubey, who laid claim to the mantle of AIFF president after besting former Indian national team skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, has certainly made bold promises to further the cause of the sport in the country, arousing the interest of the fans.

Considering his latest interaction with the FIFA chief, it seems like his methods are clearly drawing foreign eyes and results. However, whether this turns into tangible progress in the realm of Indian football is something that remains to be seen.

The fresh-faced AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey recently held a discussion with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to discuss plans and strategies to further the cause of Indian football on a global scale.

The fresh-faced AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey recently held a discussion with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to discuss plans and strategies to further the cause of Indian football on a global scale. The former goalkeeper was accompanied by Secretary General Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran during his interaction with Infantino. The trio linked up in Doha, Qatar. A major takeaway from the discussion was the fact that the FIFA chief agreed to chart a course to India in the near future to presumably assess the prospects of the sport and its scope for growth and development in the country. ALSO READ: Premier League moves to postpone the upcoming match round to show respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II "AIFF President Mr. Kalyan Chaubey and Secretary General Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran called upon FIFA President Mr. Gianni Infantino at the FIFA Office in Doha, Qatar on Friday, Sept 9, 2022. They had an encouraging and constructive meeting with the FIFA President on the future development of Indian Football. "Discussions were held on key aspects of development of Indian football, and areas that require priority focus. All the possible high-impact projects and programmes concerning Indian football will be finalised before the FIFA President's visit to India," said the statement that was released by the AIFF. ALSO READ: Mikel Arteta's Arsenal kick off their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 win against FC Zurich Chaubey, who laid claim to the mantle of AIFF president after besting former Indian national team skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, has certainly made bold promises to further the cause of the sport in the country, arousing the interest of the fans. Considering his latest interaction with the FIFA chief, it seems like his methods are clearly drawing foreign eyes and results. However, whether this turns into tangible progress in the realm of Indian football is something that remains to be seen.

AIFF bigwigs hold 'constructive discussions' with FIFA chief regarding development of Indian football

Former Indian football team skipper Bhaichung Bhutia was recently bested by BJP leader and former Indian goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey after a hard-fought battle for the coveted mantle of AIFF President.

Bhutia, who has himself dabbled in politics as he contested in&nbsp;Lok Sabha and state assembly elections on a ticket from TMC in 2014 and 2016, asserted that the level of political interference in the AIFF elections was unacceptable.&nbsp;

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"I was shocked because I personally did not expect that the political interference (in AIFF elections) would be of such a high level. I thought it's a football president election and I wanted to contribute with sincerity," said Bhutia while in conversation with PTI.&nbsp;

He wondered why a union minister had come to the venue where all the voters were housed and interacted with them by cordoning off an entire floor for the duration of their interaction.&nbsp;

Although Bhutia refused to name the union minister in question,&nbsp;Rajasthan state association president Manvendra Singh, who had backed his candidacy in the election, alleged that it was the Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju.

The fact that Rijiju was on the same premises as the voters was later confirmed by Kalyan Chaubey himself. However, he went on to dismiss Singh's claims as a 'complete lie'.

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"Out of the 34 members of the electoral college, 33 (except Gopalakrishna Kosaraju) were taken to a floor of the hotel and access was denied to the whole floor. I could not contact any of the voters, the network was down.

"I tried calling the secretary of Rajasthan association, who is a voter and whose president (Manvendra Singh) was my seconder, but I could not reach him on phone. The political interference was a shocking thing to me and it was very unfortunate and a sad thing for Indian football."

Former Indian football team skipper Bhaichung Bhutia was recently bested by BJP leader and former Indian goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey after a hard-fought battle for the coveted mantle of AIFF President.

Former Indian football team skipper Bhaichung Bhutia was recently bested by BJP leader and former Indian goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey after a hard-fought battle for the coveted mantle of AIFF President. Bhutia, who has himself dabbled in politics as he contested in Lok Sabha and state assembly elections on a ticket from TMC in 2014 and 2016, asserted that the level of political interference in the AIFF elections was unacceptable. ALSO READ: When Ghanaian witch doctor claimed he caused Cristiano Ronaldo's knee injury ahead of FIFA World Cup 2014 "I was shocked because I personally did not expect that the political interference (in AIFF elections) would be of such a high level. I thought it's a football president election and I wanted to contribute with sincerity," said Bhutia while in conversation with PTI. He wondered why a union minister had come to the venue where all the voters were housed and interacted with them by cordoning off an entire floor for the duration of their interaction. Although Bhutia refused to name the union minister in question, Rajasthan state association president Manvendra Singh, who had backed his candidacy in the election, alleged that it was the Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju. The fact that Rijiju was on the same premises as the voters was later confirmed by Kalyan Chaubey himself. However, he went on to dismiss Singh's claims as a 'complete lie'. ALSO READ: Rohit, Dravid pre-planned rotation of players, workload management keeping T20 WC 2022 in mind - Report "Out of the 34 members of the electoral college, 33 (except Gopalakrishna Kosaraju) were taken to a floor of the hotel and access was denied to the whole floor. I could not contact any of the voters, the network was down. "I tried calling the secretary of Rajasthan association, who is a voter and whose president (Manvendra Singh) was my seconder, but I could not reach him on phone. The political interference was a shocking thing to me and it was very unfortunate and a sad thing for Indian football."

'Sad for Indian football'- Bhaichung Bhutia shocked by the level of political interference in AIFF elections

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday got a former player as its first president in its 85-year history with Kalyan Chaubey beating the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia in the election for the top post here.

The 45-year-old Chaubey, a former goalkeeper with Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, won 33-1, a result that was expected as former captain Bhutia did not have many supporters in the 34-member voters' list made up of state association representatives.

The 'Sikkimese Sniper', also 45, could not even get his state association representative as proposer or seconder for filing his nomination papers.

Chaubey, a BJP politician who lost the last parliamentary election for the Krishnanagar seat in West Bengal, never played for the India senior team though he was in the squad on few occasions.

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He, however, played for India in age-group international tournaments. He was also a former goalkeeper at both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.

In fact, Bhutia and Chaubey were one-time teammates at East Bengal. Karnataka Football Association president N A Haris, a sitting Congress MLA, won the election for the lone post of vice president, beating Manvendra Singh of Rajasthan FA.

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Arunachal Pradesh's Kipa Ajay beat Gopalakrishna Kosaraju of Andhra Pradesh for the treasurer's post. 
Kosaraju and Manvendra proposed and seconded Bhutia.

All the 14 candidates who had filed nominations for as many executive committee members' posts were elected unopposed.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday got a former player as its first president in its 85-year history with Kalyan Chaubey beating the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia in the election for the top post here.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday got a former player as its first president in its 85-year history with Kalyan Chaubey beating the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia in the election for the top post here. The 45-year-old Chaubey, a former goalkeeper with Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, won 33-1, a result that was expected as former captain Bhutia did not have many supporters in the 34-member voters' list made up of state association representatives. The 'Sikkimese Sniper', also 45, could not even get his state association representative as proposer or seconder for filing his nomination papers. Chaubey, a BJP politician who lost the last parliamentary election for the Krishnanagar seat in West Bengal, never played for the India senior team though he was in the squad on few occasions. Also Read: WATCH - Neeraj Chopra's inspiring training video breaks the internet ahead of Diamond League final He, however, played for India in age-group international tournaments. He was also a former goalkeeper at both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. In fact, Bhutia and Chaubey were one-time teammates at East Bengal. Karnataka Football Association president N A Haris, a sitting Congress MLA, won the election for the lone post of vice president, beating Manvendra Singh of Rajasthan FA. Also Read: Chelsea agree to a £10M swap deal with Barcelona as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to London Arunachal Pradesh's Kipa Ajay beat Gopalakrishna Kosaraju of Andhra Pradesh for the treasurer's post. Kosaraju and Manvendra proposed and seconded Bhutia. All the 14 candidates who had filed nominations for as many executive committee members' posts were elected unopposed.

Kalyan Chaubey beats former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia as AIFF gets first player president

Winds of change were blowing over the All India Football Federation on the eve of its polls as the sports body braced up to elect a former player as its president for the first time in its 85-year-old existence.

In Friday's elections for the post of AIFF president, 45-year-old Bhaichung Bhutia, one of the biggest legends in Indian football, will have a straight fight with former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey.

While Bhutia's candidature has got the election more traction than it would have got if he was not in the fray, Chaubey, also 45, is believed to be the front-runner for the top job with backing from politically important state associations like Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh.

To put it on record, Chaubey is a BJP leader from West Bengal and there would be no marks for guessing that he does enjoy a fair amount of political currency, which is a must in these kinds of sports body polls.

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There has been a lot of noise as Chaubey is believed to have the "blessings" of one of the most influential political heavyweights from the North East with an active interest in Indian sports.

And many people connected to Indian football see this as the reason why Bhutia's home state association Sikkim isn't supporting his candidature. Elections to the other two top posts -- general secretary and treasurer -- will also see straight fights between two candidates.

Rajasthan Football Association president Manvendra Singh, a Congress politician (also the son of former defence minister Yashwant Singh of BJP), entered the fray against N A Haris for the lone vice-president's post.

Haris is the president of Karnataka FA and a sitting Congress MLA from the state. Manvendra's state association had seconded the candidature of Bhutia. Andhra Pradesh state association president Gopalakrishna Kosaraju and Kipa Ajay of Arunachal Pradesh are the two candidates in the fray for the treasurer's post.

Kosaraju, who had proposed Bhutia as the presidential candidate, had on August 26 written a letter to withdraw his candidature. But sources said he had not filled up a form to withdraw and hence, his candidature remained.

The new AIFF dispensation will have lots on its plate, the foremost task among them being the smooth conduct of the FIFA Women's U-17 World Cup in October.&nbsp;After the deadline for withdrawal of candidature ended at 1 pm on Tuesday, returning officer Umesh Sinha released the final list of contestants for each post for the polls.

The electoral college of 34 representatives from the state associations has been issued by the returning officer. Elections are to be held for the posts of one president, one vice president, one treasurer and 14 executive committee members.

Six former players -- four male and two women -- will be co-opted later as executive committee members with voting rights. As only 14 candidates are in the fray for as many posts of executive committee members, all of them are set to be declared elected.

They are G P Palguna, Avijit Paul, P Anilkumar, Valanka Natasha Alemao, Maloji Raje Chhatrapati, Menla Ethenpa, Mohan Lal, Arif Ali, K Neibou Sekhose, Lalnghinglova Hmar, Deepak Sharma, Vijay Bali and Syed Imtiaz Husain.

The polls were earlier scheduled to be held under the aegis of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) on August 28. But, in a verdict on August 22, the SC terminated the mandate of the CoA, disallowed the inclusion of 36 former players in the electoral college and postponed the polls by a week in order to salvage the Women's U-17 World Cup whose hosting was jeopardised after FIFA suspended the AIFF.

The world football governing body though lifted the ban on August 26, clearing the decks for India to host the Women's U-17 World Cup in October. Known as 'Sikkimese Sniper' during his playing days for his goal-scoring prowess, Bhutia alleged meddling from some ruling Sikkim Krantakari Morcha (SKM) party leaders by way of pressurising the state football body president Menla Ethenpa to vote against him.

During his illustrious career, Bhutia made a total of 104 appearances for the Indian team, and retired from the sport as a player in 2011, with a then-record 40 goals to his name. In 1999, Bhutia became the first Indian footballer to sign with a European club, after he was roped in by English team Bury.

His career also included successful stints at prominent Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Selangor and United Sikkim. Following his retirement as a player, the former India captain managed teams like United Sikkim and also headed the AIFF's technical committee.

Bhutia's opponent in the polls, Chaubey is a graduate of the renowned Tata Football Academy (TFA) and a pass-out of its golden batch of 1996. Some of Chaubey's batch-mates include Dipendu Biswas, Renedy Singh, Lolendro Singh, and former Mohun Bagan coach Shankarlal Chakraborty to name a few.

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Chaubey made his senior club football debut in 1996 with Mohun Bagan and went on to represent East Bengal, JCT and Salgaocar among others from 1997 to 2003. The former goalkeeper is remembered for being a part of the SAFF Championship winning squad thrice and representing five different states in the national championship during his career.

During his professional career spanning 15 years, Chaubey became a five-time runner-up in the I-League/National Football League. He had been to Germany for trials in Bundesliga clubs like Karlsruher SC and VfR Heilbronn.

After his retirement as a player, he served many football associations and also contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from the Krishnanagar Constituency, where he lost to Trinamool Congress' Mohua Moitra.&nbsp;Chaubey is married to former Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra's daughter Sohini.

Chaubey has represented the Indian team in the U-17 Asian Youth Championship held in Tehran, Iran, 1994, U-20 Asian Youth Championship held at Suwon/Seol, South Korea in 1996, Pre-Olympic Qualification 1999-00 and in the senior Indian national team 1999-2006.

Winds of change were blowing over the All India Football Federation on the eve of its polls as the sports body braced up to elect a former player as its president for the first time in its 85-year-old existence.

Winds of change were blowing over the All India Football Federation on the eve of its polls as the sports body braced up to elect a former player as its president for the first time in its 85-year-old existence. In Friday's elections for the post of AIFF president, 45-year-old Bhaichung Bhutia, one of the biggest legends in Indian football, will have a straight fight with former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey. While Bhutia's candidature has got the election more traction than it would have got if he was not in the fray, Chaubey, also 45, is believed to be the front-runner for the top job with backing from politically important state associations like Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh. To put it on record, Chaubey is a BJP leader from West Bengal and there would be no marks for guessing that he does enjoy a fair amount of political currency, which is a must in these kinds of sports body polls. ALSO READ: Jury discharged following failure to reach verdict in Ryan Giggs assault trial There has been a lot of noise as Chaubey is believed to have the "blessings" of one of the most influential political heavyweights from the North East with an active interest in Indian sports. And many people connected to Indian football see this as the reason why Bhutia's home state association Sikkim isn't supporting his candidature. Elections to the other two top posts -- general secretary and treasurer -- will also see straight fights between two candidates. Rajasthan Football Association president Manvendra Singh, a Congress politician (also the son of former defence minister Yashwant Singh of BJP), entered the fray against N A Haris for the lone vice-president's post. Haris is the president of Karnataka FA and a sitting Congress MLA from the state. Manvendra's state association had seconded the candidature of Bhutia. Andhra Pradesh state association president Gopalakrishna Kosaraju and Kipa Ajay of Arunachal Pradesh are the two candidates in the fray for the treasurer's post. Kosaraju, who had proposed Bhutia as the presidential candidate, had on August 26 written a letter to withdraw his candidature. But sources said he had not filled up a form to withdraw and hence, his candidature remained. The new AIFF dispensation will have lots on its plate, the foremost task among them being the smooth conduct of the FIFA Women's U-17 World Cup in October. After the deadline for withdrawal of candidature ended at 1 pm on Tuesday, returning officer Umesh Sinha released the final list of contestants for each post for the polls. The electoral college of 34 representatives from the state associations has been issued by the returning officer. Elections are to be held for the posts of one president, one vice president, one treasurer and 14 executive committee members. Six former players -- four male and two women -- will be co-opted later as executive committee members with voting rights. As only 14 candidates are in the fray for as many posts of executive committee members, all of them are set to be declared elected. They are G P Palguna, Avijit Paul, P Anilkumar, Valanka Natasha Alemao, Maloji Raje Chhatrapati, Menla Ethenpa, Mohan Lal, Arif Ali, K Neibou Sekhose, Lalnghinglova Hmar, Deepak Sharma, Vijay Bali and Syed Imtiaz Husain. The polls were earlier scheduled to be held under the aegis of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) on August 28. But, in a verdict on August 22, the SC terminated the mandate of the CoA, disallowed the inclusion of 36 former players in the electoral college and postponed the polls by a week in order to salvage the Women's U-17 World Cup whose hosting was jeopardised after FIFA suspended the AIFF. The world football governing body though lifted the ban on August 26, clearing the decks for India to host the Women's U-17 World Cup in October. Known as 'Sikkimese Sniper' during his playing days for his goal-scoring prowess, Bhutia alleged meddling from some ruling Sikkim Krantakari Morcha (SKM) party leaders by way of pressurising the state football body president Menla Ethenpa to vote against him. During his illustrious career, Bhutia made a total of 104 appearances for the Indian team, and retired from the sport as a player in 2011, with a then-record 40 goals to his name. In 1999, Bhutia became the first Indian footballer to sign with a European club, after he was roped in by English team Bury. His career also included successful stints at prominent Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Selangor and United Sikkim. Following his retirement as a player, the former India captain managed teams like United Sikkim and also headed the AIFF's technical committee. Bhutia's opponent in the polls, Chaubey is a graduate of the renowned Tata Football Academy (TFA) and a pass-out of its golden batch of 1996. Some of Chaubey's batch-mates include Dipendu Biswas, Renedy Singh, Lolendro Singh, and former Mohun Bagan coach Shankarlal Chakraborty to name a few. ALSO READ: Bizarre! Solomon Bockarie fails dope test, Dutchman shifts blame on ‘chicken with hormones’ Chaubey made his senior club football debut in 1996 with Mohun Bagan and went on to represent East Bengal, JCT and Salgaocar among others from 1997 to 2003. The former goalkeeper is remembered for being a part of the SAFF Championship winning squad thrice and representing five different states in the national championship during his career. During his professional career spanning 15 years, Chaubey became a five-time runner-up in the I-League/National Football League. He had been to Germany for trials in Bundesliga clubs like Karlsruher SC and VfR Heilbronn. After his retirement as a player, he served many football associations and also contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from the Krishnanagar Constituency, where he lost to Trinamool Congress' Mohua Moitra. Chaubey is married to former Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra's daughter Sohini. Chaubey has represented the Indian team in the U-17 Asian Youth Championship held in Tehran, Iran, 1994, U-20 Asian Youth Championship held at Suwon/Seol, South Korea in 1996, Pre-Olympic Qualification 1999-00 and in the senior Indian national team 1999-2006.

Kalyan Chaubey touted to pip Bhaichung Bhutia in race to become first AIFF 'Player President'

The legendary Bhaichung Bhutia is up against former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey in the September 2 polls of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as the three top posts will see straight fights between two candidates.

Former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal goalkeeper Chaubey, a BJP leader from Bengal, is believed to be the front-runner with backing from politically important state associations like Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh.

After the deadline of withdrawal of candidature ended at 1pm on Tuesday, returning officer Umesh Sinha released the final list of contestants for each post for the polls. The electoral college of 34 representatives from the state associations have already been issued by the returning officer.

Elections were to be held for the posts of one president, one vice president, one treasurer and 14 executive committee members. Six former players -- four male and two women -- will be co-opted later as executive committee members with voting rights.

As only 14 candidates remain in the fray for as many posts of executive committee members, all of them are set to be declared elected.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-lifts-ban-on-aiff-opens-the-door-for-u-17-womens-world-cup-to-be-held-in-the-country-as-planned-510488">FIFA lifts ban on AIFF, opens the door for U-17 Women's World Cup to be held in the country as planned</a>

They are G P Palguna, Avijit Paul, P Anilkumar, Valanka Natasha Alemao, Maloji Raje Chhatrapati, Menla Ethenpa, Mohan Lal, Arif Ali, K Neibou Sekhose, Lalnghinglova Hmar, Deepak Sharma, Vijay Bali and Syed Imtiaz Husain.

Rasthan association president Manvendra Singh, a Congress politician, entered the fray against N A Haris for the lone vice-president's post. Haris is the president of Karnataka FA and a sitting Congress MLA from the state. 
Manvendra's state association had seconded the candidature of Bhutia.

Andhra Pradesh state association president Gopalakrishna Kosaraju and Kipa Ajay of Arunachal Pradesh are the two candidates in the fray for the treasurer's post.

Kosaraju, who had proposed Bhutia as the presidential candidate, had on August 26 written a letter to withdraw his candidature. But sources said he had not filled up a form to withdraw and hence, his candidature remained.

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The polls were earlier to be held under the aegis of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) on August 28.

But, in a verdict on August 22, the SC terminated the mandate of the CoA, disallowed the inclusion of 36 former players in the electoral college and postponed the polls by a week in order to salvage the Women's U-17 World Cup whose hosting was jeopardised after FIFA suspended the AIFF.

The FIFA lifted the ban on August 26, clearing the decks for India to host the Women's U-17 World Cup in October.

The legendary Bhaichung Bhutia is up against former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey in the September 2 polls of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as the three top posts will see straight fights between two candidates.

The legendary Bhaichung Bhutia is up against former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey in the September 2 polls of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as the three top posts will see straight fights between two candidates. Former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal goalkeeper Chaubey, a BJP leader from Bengal, is believed to be the front-runner with backing from politically important state associations like Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh. After the deadline of withdrawal of candidature ended at 1pm on Tuesday, returning officer Umesh Sinha released the final list of contestants for each post for the polls. The electoral college of 34 representatives from the state associations have already been issued by the returning officer. Elections were to be held for the posts of one president, one vice president, one treasurer and 14 executive committee members. Six former players -- four male and two women -- will be co-opted later as executive committee members with voting rights. As only 14 candidates remain in the fray for as many posts of executive committee members, all of them are set to be declared elected. Also Read: FIFA lifts ban on AIFF, opens the door for U-17 Women's World Cup to be held in the country as planned They are G P Palguna, Avijit Paul, P Anilkumar, Valanka Natasha Alemao, Maloji Raje Chhatrapati, Menla Ethenpa, Mohan Lal, Arif Ali, K Neibou Sekhose, Lalnghinglova Hmar, Deepak Sharma, Vijay Bali and Syed Imtiaz Husain. Rasthan association president Manvendra Singh, a Congress politician, entered the fray against N A Haris for the lone vice-president's post. Haris is the president of Karnataka FA and a sitting Congress MLA from the state. Manvendra's state association had seconded the candidature of Bhutia. Andhra Pradesh state association president Gopalakrishna Kosaraju and Kipa Ajay of Arunachal Pradesh are the two candidates in the fray for the treasurer's post. Kosaraju, who had proposed Bhutia as the presidential candidate, had on August 26 written a letter to withdraw his candidature. But sources said he had not filled up a form to withdraw and hence, his candidature remained. Also Read: Manchester United agree deal to sign highly-rated Brazilian winger Antony from Ajax The polls were earlier to be held under the aegis of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) on August 28. But, in a verdict on August 22, the SC terminated the mandate of the CoA, disallowed the inclusion of 36 former players in the electoral college and postponed the polls by a week in order to salvage the Women's U-17 World Cup whose hosting was jeopardised after FIFA suspended the AIFF. The FIFA lifted the ban on August 26, clearing the decks for India to host the Women's U-17 World Cup in October.

AIFF polls: As expected, straight fight for 3 top posts, Bhaichung Bhutia vs Kalyan Chaubey for president

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