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History was created on 6th April 2019 when AIFF President Praful Patel got himself elected into the FIFA Council. After all, Praful Patel became the first Indian to sit on the FIFA Council chair, the main decision-making body of FIFA in the intervals of the FIFA Congress.
As the AIFF President, Praful Patel has received mixed receptions of his work. The whole world applauded India's efforts to host the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup whereas they also stand bemused as to how FIFA has allowed the federation to allow two top-flight leagues to run parallelly in the country.
Previously, the AIFF requested other AFC member nations to put forward India's views in the FIFA Council. However, now that the federation has Praful Patel in the ranks, they can influence the debates directly and take Indian football to new heights.
Here is what could happen in Indian football with Praful Patel's election into the FIFA Council:
#3 More Memorandum of Understandings
FIFA has time and time again signed multiple MOUs with the AIFF for boosting the game of football in the country. In September 2012, an MOU was signed where FIFA assured India of providing technical and strategic support to host the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup and change the scenario of football so that India has a healthy chance of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
One ought to note that this deal was inked even before India were granted the hosting status. While the AIFF themselves have revised their aim of making it only to the third round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in their second strategic plan, their commitment and success of hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup cannot be questioned.
The FIFA Council is responsible for taking calls in finance-related matters and with whom to sign MOUs. Now that Praful Patel will be one of the partakers in the FIFA Council meetings, expect more favoritism from the highest governing body of football.
#2 India hosting more FIFA events
India hosted its FIFA event in 2017 when more than 1.34 million fans flocked the stadium to make it the most attended FIFA youth competition ever. FIFA awarded India the event in December 2013, overlooking the bids of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Republic of Ireland.
Uzbekistan had reached the quarter-finals of the event in 2011 and made it to the Round of 16 the same year. India, on the other hand, had never qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and did very a very little work in grassroots development till then. Still, the FIFA Council chose India.
AIFF has already announced its intentions to bid for the 2021 FIFA U-20 Men's World Cup, and 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup through its 2nd Strategic Plan. India had already won the bid for the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup before Praful Patel's landslide victory. With the situation favoring India more heavily now, one shouldn't be surprised if more FIFA accredited events are held in the coming years.
#1 AIFF Executive Committee members sacked temporarily
According to Section 8 of the General Provisions of FIFA, "Executive bodies of member associations may under exceptional circumstances be removed from office by the Council in consultation with the relevant confederation and replaced by a normalization committee for a specific period of time."
In case the FIFA Council finds the AIFF Executive Committee members not doing their task properly, they can be removed temporarily after consulting AFC.
The I-League clubs have complained numerous times that AIFF's commercial partners have found their way inside many decision-making bodies. They were unable to get into the AIFF Executive Committee but now that day might not be far away.
Praful Patel already has the support of AFC- evident from the 38 votes he received out of 47 to be elected into the FIFA Council- to do what is best for Indian football. All he needs to do is convince the other FIFA Council members.
