The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA statutes, said the world football's governing body on Monday.

"The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF's daily affairs," FIFA wrote in a statement.

India's highest court had disbanded the AIFF in May and appointed a three-member committee to govern the sport, amend the AIFF's constitution and conduct elections that have been pending for 18 months.

In response, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) sent a team led by AFC general secretary Windsor John to meet Indian football stakeholders and laid down a roadmap for the AIFF to amend its statutes by the end of July and subsequently conclude elections at the latest by September 15.

According to FIFA statutes, member federations must be free from legal and political interference in their respective countries. FIFA has previously suspended other national associations over similar cases.

FIFA warned AIFF of looming ban in early August

During the first week of August, FIFA reminded AIFF that it risked losing the upcoming Under-17 Women's World Cup and faced a ban due to "deviations" from an agreed roadmap aimed at sorting out governance issues.

"As per the said roadmap, the AIFF was to call for a special general assembly on the first week of August 2022 to approve the new statutes worked upon with FIFA, the AFC and the Indian football community," a letter sent by FIFA and AFC said.

"Unfortunately, we have been informed that the (Indian) Supreme Court's hearing held yesterday (August 3) on the situation of the AIFF allegedly resulted in deviations to the aforementioned roadmap.

"If this is considered to be true, it would irrefutably jeopardize the mutual understanding which was displayed so far on the steps forward."

The letter was addressed to acting AIFF general secretary Sunando Dhar and signed by FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura and AFC general secretary Windsor John. It asked the Indian body to provide a transcript of the court's decision.

FIFA warned that sanctions, if serious deviations to the agreed roadmap were found, could include "the suspension of the AIFF and the withdrawal of the hosting rights for the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup".

The loss of Women's U-17 World Cup in India

The suspension means that the FIFA Women's U-17 World Cup 2022 cannot currently be held in India as planned.

The tournament was scheduled to take place on October 11-30 in three Indian cities: Bhubaneswar, Margao and Navi Mumbai.

FIFA said the organization is assessing the next steps regarding the tournament.

"FIFA is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of youth affairs and sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved," stated FIFA.

India hosted the FIFA Men's U-17 World Cup in 2017.

(With input from Reuters)