NEW DELHI: Filing of declarations of candidacy for the election of AIFFFIFA’s executive committee under the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) concluded on Saturday, although there is a cloud of uncertainty over whether the polling process will be accepted by the FIFA. world governing body of FIFA.
In its declaration of suspension from the Football Federation of India for “undue influence by third parties”, FIFA had said that it wanted an “independent electoral committee to be elected by the general assembly of the AIFF to organize the elections of ‘a new executive committee’.
He had also stated that AIFF should “carry out the upcoming election process in accordance with statutory requirements and hold its elections on the basis of pre-existing members of AIFF” (i.e. state associations only) .
The Supreme Court will also hear the case on Monday after an urgent mention of the Ministry of Sports keen to host the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in India in October.
On August 3, the Supreme Court had ordered the holding of AIFF elections under the aegis of the CoA on August 28, giving the right to vote to 36 personalities. But FIFA, which was not in favor of individual members forming the electoral college, suspended the AIFF on August 15.
Former captain Bhaichung Bhutia was among seven people who filed nomination papers for the post of AIFF president, according to the list released by the CoA-appointed returning officer for the Aug. 28 election.
The other six are former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey, Shaji Prabhakaran (President of Football Delhi), NA Haris (Head of Karnataka Association), Ajit Banerjee (Head of IFA and elder brother of Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee), Manvendra Singh (President of Rajasthan Association) and Valanka Alemao ( daughter of the president of the Goa Churchill Alemao association).
For Bhutia to succeed, it is imperative that the electoral college is not devoid of former players. For now, FIFA is not in favor of their presence in the electoral college. A clear picture will emerge when the Supreme Court resumes its hearing on the matter on Monday.
Former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal goalkeeper Chaubey, a West Bengal BJP leader who unsuccessfully fought a general election and state assembly, will be the biggest threat to Bhutia. It was proposed and supported respectively by the associations of Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh, two states which have strong BJP politicians.
Alemao also submitted application documents for the position of treasurer along with five other candidates – Kipa Ajay (Arunachal Pradesh), Gopalakrishna Kosaraju (Andhra Pradesh), Menla Ethenpa (Sikkim), Deepak Sharma (Himachal Pradesh) and Arif Ali (Uttarakhand) .
Alemao is again in contention for the election of five state association executive committee members along with 12 others, including former India midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh of Meghalaya.
The other 11 are P Anilkumar (Kerala), Avijit Paul (Odisha), GP Palguna (Telangana), Vijay Bali (Punjab), Menla Ethenpa (Sikkim), Lalnghinglova Hmar (Mizoram), Syed Imtiaz Husain (Bihar), Mohan Lal ( Chhattisgarh), Deepak Sharma (Himachal Pradesh), Moirangthem Ratankumar Singh (Manipur), Mohd Shahid (Uttar Pradesh).
But, of the five executive committee members reserved for prominent players, only one – Madhu Kumari of Bihar – has submitted nominations.
A former player said there was some confusion over whether the five seats for ex-internationals should be filled in the election or appointed later.
“I thought that the five members of the executive committee were reserved for eminent players who would be appointed later by the AIFF, so I did not submit any application. Let’s see later,” said a former Indian player.
Some people who follow recent developments in Indian football also felt that the remaining four seats for prominent players on the executive committee could be filled by nomination after the elections.
The review of nominations will take place on Sunday and candidates can withdraw from the Aug. 22-24 contest before returning officer Umesh Sinha draws up the final list of contenders on Aug. 25.
The Bureau of the FIFA Council had stated that the lifting of the suspension of the AIFF would be subject to the complete repeal of the mandate of the CoA. FIFA also said it wanted the AIFF administration “to be fully in charge of the day-to-day affairs of the AIFF”.
“The suspension will be lifted once an order establishing a committee of trustees to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of day-to-day affairs. of the AIFF,” said FIFA.
“The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, which is due to take place in India from 11 to 30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned. FIFA is assessing the next steps regarding the tournament and refer the matter to the Board Office if and when necessary.”
In its declaration of suspension from the Football Federation of India for “undue influence by third parties”, FIFA had said that it wanted an “independent electoral committee to be elected by the general assembly of the AIFF to organize the elections of ‘a new executive committee’.
He had also stated that AIFF should “carry out the upcoming election process in accordance with statutory requirements and hold its elections on the basis of pre-existing members of AIFF” (i.e. state associations only) .
The Supreme Court will also hear the case on Monday after an urgent mention of the Ministry of Sports keen to host the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in India in October.
On August 3, the Supreme Court had ordered the holding of AIFF elections under the aegis of the CoA on August 28, giving the right to vote to 36 personalities. But FIFA, which was not in favor of individual members forming the electoral college, suspended the AIFF on August 15.
Former captain Bhaichung Bhutia was among seven people who filed nomination papers for the post of AIFF president, according to the list released by the CoA-appointed returning officer for the Aug. 28 election.
The other six are former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey, Shaji Prabhakaran (President of Football Delhi), NA Haris (Head of Karnataka Association), Ajit Banerjee (Head of IFA and elder brother of Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee), Manvendra Singh (President of Rajasthan Association) and Valanka Alemao ( daughter of the president of the Goa Churchill Alemao association).
For Bhutia to succeed, it is imperative that the electoral college is not devoid of former players. For now, FIFA is not in favor of their presence in the electoral college. A clear picture will emerge when the Supreme Court resumes its hearing on the matter on Monday.
Former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal goalkeeper Chaubey, a West Bengal BJP leader who unsuccessfully fought a general election and state assembly, will be the biggest threat to Bhutia. It was proposed and supported respectively by the associations of Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh, two states which have strong BJP politicians.
Alemao also submitted application documents for the position of treasurer along with five other candidates – Kipa Ajay (Arunachal Pradesh), Gopalakrishna Kosaraju (Andhra Pradesh), Menla Ethenpa (Sikkim), Deepak Sharma (Himachal Pradesh) and Arif Ali (Uttarakhand) .
Alemao is again in contention for the election of five state association executive committee members along with 12 others, including former India midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh of Meghalaya.
The other 11 are P Anilkumar (Kerala), Avijit Paul (Odisha), GP Palguna (Telangana), Vijay Bali (Punjab), Menla Ethenpa (Sikkim), Lalnghinglova Hmar (Mizoram), Syed Imtiaz Husain (Bihar), Mohan Lal ( Chhattisgarh), Deepak Sharma (Himachal Pradesh), Moirangthem Ratankumar Singh (Manipur), Mohd Shahid (Uttar Pradesh).
But, of the five executive committee members reserved for prominent players, only one – Madhu Kumari of Bihar – has submitted nominations.
A former player said there was some confusion over whether the five seats for ex-internationals should be filled in the election or appointed later.
“I thought that the five members of the executive committee were reserved for eminent players who would be appointed later by the AIFF, so I did not submit any application. Let’s see later,” said a former Indian player.
Some people who follow recent developments in Indian football also felt that the remaining four seats for prominent players on the executive committee could be filled by nomination after the elections.
The review of nominations will take place on Sunday and candidates can withdraw from the Aug. 22-24 contest before returning officer Umesh Sinha draws up the final list of contenders on Aug. 25.
The Bureau of the FIFA Council had stated that the lifting of the suspension of the AIFF would be subject to the complete repeal of the mandate of the CoA. FIFA also said it wanted the AIFF administration “to be fully in charge of the day-to-day affairs of the AIFF”.
“The suspension will be lifted once an order establishing a committee of trustees to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of day-to-day affairs. of the AIFF,” said FIFA.
“The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, which is due to take place in India from 11 to 30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned. FIFA is assessing the next steps regarding the tournament and refer the matter to the Board Office if and when necessary.”
