NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court On Thursday, the national football associations warned they would ‘exercise their authority’ if ousted AIFF NCP leader and leader Praful Patel attends their meetings and interferes with the administration of justice.
The top court said it would intervene if an attempt was made to sabotage the organization of the FIFA-U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 in India.
A bench of judges DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and AS Bopanna refused to hear amendment petitions filed by the Central and State Football Associations, and the motion for contempt of the Committee of Administrators (COA) against Patel for allegedly “interfering with the proceedings” of the High Court after being told a meeting was scheduled for Thursday evening with FIFA authorities.
The Indian Football Federation (AIFF) has been at the center of controversy after failing to hold timely elections due to a delay in finalizing its constitution, a key requirement for the prestigious tournament to take place in the country.
As the backlog continued, the Supreme Court appointed a three-member Committee of Trustees (CoA) comprising former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, former Supreme Court Justice Anil Dave and former Captain Indian football manager Bhaskar Ganguly to manage day-to-day affairs. of the AIF.
Patel, despite being ousted by the SC, reportedly held a meeting with 35 intervening member associations on August 6, amid the continuing threat of an AIFF ban by global football body AIFA and the Asian Football Confederation due to the non-holding of the election. Patel is a member of AIFA’s executive council and vice-president of the AFC.
Additional Solicitor General Balbir Singh, representing the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said he was instructed to inform the court that on Wednesday a meeting with FIFA officials took place and another round is scheduled for Thursday evening, and that efforts are being made. to iron out differences and save the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022.
“So we’ll hold our hands and we shouldn’t open the case,” the bench said and declined to hear the cases listed for hearing.
Singh said the court could record in its order that the AOC secretary and the AIFF secretary be allowed to be present at the meeting with FIFA officials.
Lead Counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the COA, said it would be appropriate for only the two representatives already appointed by the COA to attend the meeting with FIFA.
“We want the matter resolved out of court. We can also read between the lines and we know who is actually appearing for whom in this case. We keep our balance and our sense of balance, and if the need arises in fact feel, we won’t be hesitant to assert our authority. As long as the person being ousted isn’t involved and doesn’t cause interference, we have no problem with that,” the then sternly stated bench in Singh.
Singh assured the bench that the ousted entities (Patel) would not be involved.
Singh requested the court’s freedom to allow them to mention the matter for an urgent hearing, should a situation arise for urgent court intervention after Thursday’s meeting with FIFA officials.
On Wednesday, the top court warned the national football associations that it does not appreciate their ‘backdoor methods’ of defeating court orders and that it is up to them to stage the FIFA-U Women’s World Cup -17 2022 in India.
The higher court said it issued a consent order on August 3 and the way forward is for the CoA and the union ministry to engage with the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to organize the international tournament.
India is due to host the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup from October 11, 2022.
On August 3, the high court ordered the rapid holding of elections to the AIFF executive committee according to the timetable proposed by the COA.
The higher court had said that the AIFF electoral college would have representatives from 36 state football associations and 36 representatives of prominent football players.
The 36 representatives of eminent soccer players will consist of 24 male soccer players and 12 female players, who have played at least one international soccer match for India and withdrew from international tournaments two years prior to the date of notification elections.
Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jainappearing for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, previously said they had filed a request to change the SC order of August 3, after FIFA wrote to them that the roadmap was not being followed.
“FIFA has stated that they will withdraw the hosting rights if the agreed roadmap is not followed. This letter from FIFA strikes at the very root of the Interim Order and that is why we have filed the request,” he said.
The state associations have said FIFA and the AFC are against changing the composition of the electoral college, insisting that it amounts to a third party influencing the affairs of the AIFF. They also oppose the inclusion of individual sportspeople in the AIFF General Assembly, saying it violates the 2022 FIFA Statutes.
On August 9, the Center also requested the modification of the order of the SC citing the reservations expressed by FIFA and the AFC.
On May 18, the Supreme Court had appointed a three-member CoA headed by former high-level judge Anil R Dave to manage the affairs of AIFF and expelled the executive committee headed by Praful Patel which had exceeded two years. his four-year term.
The top court said it would intervene if an attempt was made to sabotage the organization of the FIFA-U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 in India.
A bench of judges DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and AS Bopanna refused to hear amendment petitions filed by the Central and State Football Associations, and the motion for contempt of the Committee of Administrators (COA) against Patel for allegedly “interfering with the proceedings” of the High Court after being told a meeting was scheduled for Thursday evening with FIFA authorities.
The Indian Football Federation (AIFF) has been at the center of controversy after failing to hold timely elections due to a delay in finalizing its constitution, a key requirement for the prestigious tournament to take place in the country.
As the backlog continued, the Supreme Court appointed a three-member Committee of Trustees (CoA) comprising former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, former Supreme Court Justice Anil Dave and former Captain Indian football manager Bhaskar Ganguly to manage day-to-day affairs. of the AIF.
Patel, despite being ousted by the SC, reportedly held a meeting with 35 intervening member associations on August 6, amid the continuing threat of an AIFF ban by global football body AIFA and the Asian Football Confederation due to the non-holding of the election. Patel is a member of AIFA’s executive council and vice-president of the AFC.
Additional Solicitor General Balbir Singh, representing the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said he was instructed to inform the court that on Wednesday a meeting with FIFA officials took place and another round is scheduled for Thursday evening, and that efforts are being made. to iron out differences and save the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022.
“So we’ll hold our hands and we shouldn’t open the case,” the bench said and declined to hear the cases listed for hearing.
Singh said the court could record in its order that the AOC secretary and the AIFF secretary be allowed to be present at the meeting with FIFA officials.
Lead Counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the COA, said it would be appropriate for only the two representatives already appointed by the COA to attend the meeting with FIFA.
“We want the matter resolved out of court. We can also read between the lines and we know who is actually appearing for whom in this case. We keep our balance and our sense of balance, and if the need arises in fact feel, we won’t be hesitant to assert our authority. As long as the person being ousted isn’t involved and doesn’t cause interference, we have no problem with that,” the then sternly stated bench in Singh.
Singh assured the bench that the ousted entities (Patel) would not be involved.
Singh requested the court’s freedom to allow them to mention the matter for an urgent hearing, should a situation arise for urgent court intervention after Thursday’s meeting with FIFA officials.
On Wednesday, the top court warned the national football associations that it does not appreciate their ‘backdoor methods’ of defeating court orders and that it is up to them to stage the FIFA-U Women’s World Cup -17 2022 in India.
The higher court said it issued a consent order on August 3 and the way forward is for the CoA and the union ministry to engage with the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to organize the international tournament.
India is due to host the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup from October 11, 2022.
On August 3, the high court ordered the rapid holding of elections to the AIFF executive committee according to the timetable proposed by the COA.
The higher court had said that the AIFF electoral college would have representatives from 36 state football associations and 36 representatives of prominent football players.
The 36 representatives of eminent soccer players will consist of 24 male soccer players and 12 female players, who have played at least one international soccer match for India and withdrew from international tournaments two years prior to the date of notification elections.
Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jainappearing for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, previously said they had filed a request to change the SC order of August 3, after FIFA wrote to them that the roadmap was not being followed.
“FIFA has stated that they will withdraw the hosting rights if the agreed roadmap is not followed. This letter from FIFA strikes at the very root of the Interim Order and that is why we have filed the request,” he said.
The state associations have said FIFA and the AFC are against changing the composition of the electoral college, insisting that it amounts to a third party influencing the affairs of the AIFF. They also oppose the inclusion of individual sportspeople in the AIFF General Assembly, saying it violates the 2022 FIFA Statutes.
On August 9, the Center also requested the modification of the order of the SC citing the reservations expressed by FIFA and the AFC.
On May 18, the Supreme Court had appointed a three-member CoA headed by former high-level judge Anil R Dave to manage the affairs of AIFF and expelled the executive committee headed by Praful Patel which had exceeded two years. his four-year term.
