After the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) lifted the ban on All India Football Federation (AIFF), the management expressed happiness over the turn of events but also apologised to Gokulam Kerala FC for their exit from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Club Championship due to the FIFA suspension.
Taking to Twitter, the AIFF wrote, "#IndianFootball is back on track again after FIFA lifted its suspension on AIFF on August 26. While we are happy with the turn of events, we are also extremely sorry for @GokulamKeralaFC's exit from the AFC Women's Club Championship due to the suspension."
The news of ban being lifted elated football fans across the country who also took to Twitter to express their feelings.
"FIFA lifts suspension of AIFF. U-17 Women's World Cup will be held in India," wrote one ecstatic fan on his twitter handle.
One posted a fire emoji and expressed happiness over lifting of the ban.
While one of the fan sought a public apology from AIFF on Gokulam Kerala's women's team exit from the AFC Women's Club Championship due to the ban
"FIFA ban lifted. Gokulam girls had to pay the biggest price. The new committee must publicly apologize to them first before doing ANYTHING ELSE."
The global governing body lifted the ban on August 26 after it received confirmation that the mandate of the committee of administrators that was set up to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee had been terminated, ANI reported.
After the lifting of the ban, FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022 will now be hosted in India from 11 to 30 October 2022, as planned.
Earlier, FIFA had suspended India for "undue influence from third parties" and said the U-17 Women's World Cup "cannot currently be held in India as planned".
It was for the first time FIFA banned AIFF in its 85-year history, with the apex body saying there have been "flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes".