New Delhi: Former players dragged the All India Football Federation to Delhi High Court on Tuesday over alleged evasiveness to include them in its upcoming annual general meeting despite repeated requests for representation in accordance with its newly-adopted constitution.

Pointing to Article 20.2 of AIFF’s new constitution that was adopted on October 12, Football Players Association of India said its urgent appeal emanates from the federation’s “backhanded and arbitrary act” of nullifying its status as the national players association ahead of the AGM.

As per the Supreme Court-approved constitution, AIFF is mandated to form the NPA, inclusive of 15 “eminent” players, who will have voting rights in its general body.

Since they are the only representative body of players in the country with a strength of 550 active members, FPAI on December 2 had requested AIFF for inclusion in the AGM.

Receiving no clear response, they have now argued that AIFF is creating a facade of neutrality so that players remain voiceless on the Dec 20 meeting where several crucial agenda items related to player welfare are also to be discussed.

AIFF issued formal notice for its AGM on November 20, but sought applications for NPA, national referees’ association (NRA) and national coaches’ association (NCA) only on December 12 with deadline for submission open till January 11, 2026.

“The timing and manner of such exclusion clearly indicates the oblique motive of the Respondents (AIFF and its president Kalyan Chaubey) to frustrate the representation of players in the AGM and obfuscating their vote. This is in direct breach of the express provisions of AIFF Constitution, particularly Article 20.03 and the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s judgment,” FPAI said in its appeal, which will be heard on Wednesday.

Mehrajuddin Wadoo (ccentre) is the current president of FPAI. Photo: @FPAI

Pointing to the constitution that recognises players as a “distinct and mandatory stakeholder group”, FPAI said AIFF can’t constitute a General Body or conduct AGM without player representation.

“Rejection of the Petitioner (FPAI), which is the only functioning National Players Association, necessarily results in complete exclusion of players, leading to zero representation of footballers in the AGM. An AGM conducted in such a manner is fundamentally inconsistent with the constitutional framework governing the Respondent No.1 (AIFF).”

Founded in 2006 and recognised by global players union FIFPRO but not by AIFF, FPAI claimed that it has successfully discharged its functions as a NPA and over the years have participated in discussions with AIFF, FIFPRO and world governing body FIFA over establishment of National Dispute Redressal Chamber for India.

FPAI said despite their repeated requests for recognition and participation, AIFF remained “evasive” and ensured to “thwart” player representation.

“The exclusion of the Petitioner is a deliberate strategy of manipulating and transgressing the AIFF Constitution 2025 by arbitrary concentration of power. Such conduct renders the constitutional mandate of player representation illusory and reduces it to a formality on paper,” it said.

Hence FPAI has sought from Delhi HC’s directive inclusion in the AGM and AIFF’s recognition as the NPA, otherwise co-opt eminent players to prevent “arbitrary exclusion” and to “safeguard” the right of footballers to representation in football’s governance.

As per the constitution, the NPA is an “independent body represented by football players. However, it is not a separate legal entity and therefore has no authority to act on behalf of AIFF or to represent it towards any third parties. The NPA has no authority to legally bind or commit AIFF in any way”.