FIFA has informed the Sports Ministry that it will continue to vehemently oppose the inclusion of specific persons in the electoral college for the upcoming All India Football Federation (AIFF) elections. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) on Monday received a statement from the ministry in an effort to clarify FIFA’s requests and the sports ministry’s position over the Indian football controversy, according to people with knowledge of the situation. According to a source, “the union sports ministry has detailed in the letter everything regarding the ideas offered by FIFA during their meeting with the ministry.
FIFA wants the state associations and other organisations to provide individual members of the electoral college.
A day after the CoA wrote to them, requesting specific guidance based on FIFA’s standards and the ministry’s position on those requirements, they responded with a letter.
Without going into further detail, a ministry official stated, “We have provided our view on AIFF in a written reply to CoA which will be put before the court in the next hearing.”
The Supreme Court will be presented with everything on August 17 (Wednesday), which also happens to be the last day to submit a nomination for Praful Patel’s former position as president of the AIFF.
FIFA had previously stated that having an equal number of notable players and state association delegates was “not a smart notion.” However, the world organisation is happy with 25% of the executive committee’s members being former players who were co-opted.
According to the ruling of the SC, which is hearing the case, the elections for the AIFF executive committee will take place on August 28 and the voting process began once the Returning Officer issued the notification.
The CoA, which is currently in charge of managing the operations of the national federation, had set a timeline for the AIFF elections that had been authorised by the top court.
Candidates may file their nomination papers between August 17 and August 19 and submit them in person or by mail to the returning officer.
Since the FIFA voiced its objection to the idea, the inclusion of an equal number of notable players in the electoral college has become a source of debate.
The SC made it clear last Thursday that it wants the nation to host the U-17 Women’s World Cup in October regardless of expense while allowing the ministry to play a constructive role in handling the situation.
