NEW DELHI: In a desperate move to get the AIFF banned by FIFA revoked, the central government filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Sunday, seeking an end to the “mandate” of the Committee of Administrators (CoA), as demanded by the world governing body.
The decision of the Ministry of Sports, on the eve of a crucial hearing of the High Court, can be seen as an attempt to save the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cupscheduled for October.
On August 15, the world body imposed a ban on the Indian Football Federation (AIFF) due to “third-party interference” and said the showpiece of the women’s age group “cannot currently be held in India as planned”.
The government, in its bid, agreed to virtually all of FIFA’s demands, including ending the term of the SC-appointed CoA and banning individual members from the Electoral College.
He, however, said the waiver led by ousted Praful Patel should be barred from the AIFF.
“…this honorable Court may be happy to…direct this day-to-day management of AIFF will be taken care of by the administration of the AIFF headed by the Acting Secretary General excluding the previously elected body and the CoA will have no role in the administration of the AIFF from 22.08. 2022,” the request reads.
“…to demand that the CoA submit the final draft constitution to this Hon’ble Court by the end of 23.08.2022, and that the term of the COA be declared fully terminated from 23.08.2022.”
In its statement during the suspension of the AIFF, FIFA 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 global body had said it wanted an “independent electoral committee to be elected by the AIFF General Assembly to organize the elections of a new executive committee”.
He had also stated that the AIFF should hold its elections on the basis of pre-existing members of the AIFF” (i.e. state associations only without individual members).
After the SC approved the holding of the AIFF elections on August 28, the process of filing nomination papers was completed on Saturday.
Seven candidates, including the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia, have filed nomination papers for president, although the returning officer rejected two on Sunday after the nominator and linebacker said they had not signed any documents no candidate.
One of the government’s pleas, that of not allowing prominent actors as individual members of the electoral college, if accepted by the SC, may put Bhutia’s candidacy under a cloud as it was proposed and seconded by one prominent actor each.
“Due to the suggested changes in the electoral college, it may be necessary to initiate the election process ‘de novo’ since the change in the voters list may affect the validity of some of the nomination forms that may have been proposed/seconded by the player members who are now asked to be excluded from the electoral roll,” reads the government’s plea.
The government also argued for the modification of the electoral platform approved by the high court in its order of August 3, but said that the returning officer and his assistant, who had been appointed by the CoA to conduct the AIFF polls on August 28, would be allowed to continue.
“… direct for the election from the stage stipulated on 13.08.2022 (date of notification of the election) on the basis of the electoral list containing only the representatives of the member associations which has already been published at the exclusion of 36 players.
“and be pleased to direct the returning officers to complete all stages of the election down to the counting of the votes and the declaration of the results with such modified dates as this honorable court may be pleased to specify.”
The government also proposed that the executive committee of the AIFF could consist of 23 members, including six eminent persons.
“The 17 members (including the president, a treasurer and a vice-president) will be elected by the electoral college above.
“Of the six prominent payers, four will be men and two will be women. The prominent players can be appointed (co-opted) to the EC and will have voting rights on the Executive Committee, which will make their representation approximately 25 percent. cent of the EC.”
The government said that “the problem facing the country is acute and it is of the utmost importance that India does not lose its right to host the prestigious FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup. FIFA, 2022, nor the brilliant footballers of the country (regardless of their age group) are deprived of participation in international competitions.
“An indulgence from this Hon’ble Court is the only way forward and will serve the broader interest of the nation.
“This Hon’ble Court has the power to do full justice and this would be one of the rarest instances where this Hon’ble Court can, if necessary, circumvent the rules of procedure to do full justice.”
The decision of the Ministry of Sports, on the eve of a crucial hearing of the High Court, can be seen as an attempt to save the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cupscheduled for October.
On August 15, the world body imposed a ban on the Indian Football Federation (AIFF) due to “third-party interference” and said the showpiece of the women’s age group “cannot currently be held in India as planned”.
The government, in its bid, agreed to virtually all of FIFA’s demands, including ending the term of the SC-appointed CoA and banning individual members from the Electoral College.
He, however, said the waiver led by ousted Praful Patel should be barred from the AIFF.
“…this honorable Court may be happy to…direct this day-to-day management of AIFF will be taken care of by the administration of the AIFF headed by the Acting Secretary General excluding the previously elected body and the CoA will have no role in the administration of the AIFF from 22.08. 2022,” the request reads.
“…to demand that the CoA submit the final draft constitution to this Hon’ble Court by the end of 23.08.2022, and that the term of the COA be declared fully terminated from 23.08.2022.”
In its statement during the suspension of the AIFF, FIFA 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 global body had said it wanted an “independent electoral committee to be elected by the AIFF General Assembly to organize the elections of a new executive committee”.
He had also stated that the AIFF should hold its elections on the basis of pre-existing members of the AIFF” (i.e. state associations only without individual members).
After the SC approved the holding of the AIFF elections on August 28, the process of filing nomination papers was completed on Saturday.
Seven candidates, including the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia, have filed nomination papers for president, although the returning officer rejected two on Sunday after the nominator and linebacker said they had not signed any documents no candidate.
One of the government’s pleas, that of not allowing prominent actors as individual members of the electoral college, if accepted by the SC, may put Bhutia’s candidacy under a cloud as it was proposed and seconded by one prominent actor each.
“Due to the suggested changes in the electoral college, it may be necessary to initiate the election process ‘de novo’ since the change in the voters list may affect the validity of some of the nomination forms that may have been proposed/seconded by the player members who are now asked to be excluded from the electoral roll,” reads the government’s plea.
The government also argued for the modification of the electoral platform approved by the high court in its order of August 3, but said that the returning officer and his assistant, who had been appointed by the CoA to conduct the AIFF polls on August 28, would be allowed to continue.
“… direct for the election from the stage stipulated on 13.08.2022 (date of notification of the election) on the basis of the electoral list containing only the representatives of the member associations which has already been published at the exclusion of 36 players.
“and be pleased to direct the returning officers to complete all stages of the election down to the counting of the votes and the declaration of the results with such modified dates as this honorable court may be pleased to specify.”
The government also proposed that the executive committee of the AIFF could consist of 23 members, including six eminent persons.
“The 17 members (including the president, a treasurer and a vice-president) will be elected by the electoral college above.
“Of the six prominent payers, four will be men and two will be women. The prominent players can be appointed (co-opted) to the EC and will have voting rights on the Executive Committee, which will make their representation approximately 25 percent. cent of the EC.”
The government said that “the problem facing the country is acute and it is of the utmost importance that India does not lose its right to host the prestigious FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup. FIFA, 2022, nor the brilliant footballers of the country (regardless of their age group) are deprived of participation in international competitions.
“An indulgence from this Hon’ble Court is the only way forward and will serve the broader interest of the nation.
“This Hon’ble Court has the power to do full justice and this would be one of the rarest instances where this Hon’ble Court can, if necessary, circumvent the rules of procedure to do full justice.”
