The Federation Internationale de Volleyball has revoked the provisional recognition granted to the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) interim body, effectively stripping it of its authority with immediate effect.

The letter dated 20th April, accessed by Readconfirms that the FIVB has transferred administrative control to its appointed Steering Committee, marking a decisive intervention in the functioning of the sport in the country.

The decision comes just a month after the interim body was granted conditional recognition for eight months.

That recognition, however, was tied to strict compliance with governance reforms, cooperation with the FIVB and the Steering Committee, and adherence to transparent selection and operational processes. According to the FIVB, those conditions were not met.

In fact, the global body has stated that the interim leadership “clearly chose not to accept these conditions,” leading to the withdrawal of recognition.

The consequences are immediate. The interim body has been asked to cease any representation of Indian volleyball at the international level, while the FIVB Board of Administration has handed temporary control of operations to the Steering Committee to ensure continuity in national team activities and international commitments.

Player protests find a result

This development is the culmination of weeks of mounting tension within Indian volleyball, tensions that came to light after Read reported on player grievances, camp conditions, and selection inconsistencies, bringing the issue into sharper public focus.

Their participation in the Mongolian league, intended to gain international exposure, was later cited as a reason for their omission, raising serious questions about selection consistency.

Their concerns were formally communicated to authorities and have now been referenced within the FIVB’s observations, which highlight broader issues of governance, clarity, and alignment within the system.

The situation worsened further at the ongoing national camp in Ahmedabad, where players Anand K and John Joseph walked out citing poor training standards, lack of scientific support, and a regressive environment.

Their exit, coupled with reports of confusion within the squad and dissatisfaction among players, pointed to a deeper structural problem.

The FIVB’s letter reflects the same concern. It notes failures in administrative coordination, delays in critical processes, and a lack of cooperation with the Steering Committee. There were also concerns over the handling of international commitments and the disruption caused to players due to mismanagement.

At the centre of the crisis was also the removal of head coach Dragan Mihailović, whose tenure had coincided with improved performances, including a silver medal at the CAVA Nations League.

His exclusion from the setup, despite ongoing projects under the FIVB’s Volleyball Empowerment Programme, further widened the gap between the interim administration and the global body.

Now, with the interim body effectively out of the system, Indian volleyball enters yet another phase of transition.

The immediate focus will shift to restoring stability ahead of key international competitions, including the AVC Men’s Cup, which India is set to host.

More importantly, this intervention could accelerate long-pending governance reforms and reshape how the sport is administered in the country.

For players who have spent the past few weeks raising concerns, from selection inconsistencies to training conditions, this decision is likely to be seen as a turning point.

What began as isolated grievances has now led to a complete administrative reset.