Goverment de-recognizes 54 National Sports Federations including AIFF, Hockey India, BFI

THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA has issued a blanket order that de-recognizes 54 National Sports Federations, including major NSFs like All India Football Federation, Hockey India, All India Tennis Association and Boxing Federation of India.

SPS Tomar, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, wrote an official letter to the Director General of Sports Authority of India, stating,

"I am directed to refer to this Ministry's letter of even number dated 02.06.2020 regarding 'Renewal of annual recognition of National Sports Federations for the year 2020' and to say that its compliance of the Order dated 24.06.2020 passed by the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in WP (C) No. 195/2020, the Department's letter of even number dated 02.06.2020 granting provisional annual recognition of 54 NSFs stands withdrawn."

The order effectively means that the government will cease funding the activities of these NSFs, including practice camps and competitions. This will not have immediate impact as due to COVID-19, sporting activities have come to a freeze. However, training camps for boxing and wrestling were scheduled to resume from July; which may be adversely affected if the govt stops issuing funds.

Earlier, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs had granted the annual recognition on a provisional basis to the NSFs but on Wednesday a bench of the Delhi High Court issued a stay on that order, saying,

“MYSA shall issue a fresh notice within two days intimating all the 54 NSFs concerned that its order giving provisional renewal till September 30, stands recalled. As and when a fresh application is moved by the ministry, the notice shall be placed on record.”

For the AIFF, the issues are less about the money and more about having a good relationship with the government. Their commercial partners FSDL provide the bulk of the Federation's operational costs but with the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup due to be held in India in 2021 followed by the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2022, it's not a good place to be; especially since government cooperation is necessary to facilitate the safe travel of players and staff from around the world.

There is, however, enough time for the NSFs to appeal this decision and try to have it reversed or obtain a stay order on it.

Here's a full list of the NSFs that have been named in the letter:

All India Chess Federation of India
All India Football Federation
All India Sports council of the Deaf
All India Tennis Association 
All India Carrom Federation
Amateur Baseball Federation of India
Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India
Amateur Soft Tennis Federation of India
Athletic Federation of India
Atya Patya Federation of India
Badminton Association of India
Ball Badminton Federation of India
Basketball Federation of India
Billiards & Snookers Federation of India
Boxing Federation of India
Bridge Federation of India
Cycle Polo Federation of India
Cycling Federation of India
Equestrian Federation of India
Fencing Association of India 
Handball Federation of India
Hockey India
India Polo Association
Indian Body Builders Federation 
Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association
Indian Pencak Silat Federation
Indian Rugby Football Union
Indian Triathlon Federation
Indian Weightlifting Federation
Judo Federation of India
Karate Association of India
Kho-Kho Federation of India
KIFI Association (Kudo International Federation India)
Mallakhamb Federation of India
National Rifle Association of India
Netball Federation of India
Roll Ball Federation of India
Roller Skating Federation of India
Sepak Takraw Federation of India
Shooting Ball Federation of India
Softball Association of India
Special Olympics Bharat
Squash Racket Federation of India
Swimming Federation of India
Table Tennis Federation of India 
Tenni Koit Federation of India
Tennis Ball Cricket Federation of India
Ten-Pin Bowling Federation of India
The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India
Tug-of War Federation of India
Volley Ball Federation of India
Wrestling Federation of India
Wushu Association of India
Yachting Association of India