Shashwati Chowdhury
Published on: August 22, 2022 at 20:09 IST
In support of the most recent reforms proposed to be introduced by the Supreme Court with regard to the election of the Executive Committee of the All India Football Federation, former Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia has approached the apex court (AIFF).
Bhutia claims that the much-needed improvements to Indian football cannot be scuttled because of a suspension or other threats from the Federation Internationale de Football Association in an intervention application filed through Advocate Purnima Krishna (FIFA).
As a result, he has contended that the draught constitution finalised by the Committee of Administrators (COA) should be adopted as the new constitution of the AIFF because it prioritises and encourages the participation of current and former football players, who are the key stakeholders in Indian football, over the vested interests that have dominated Indian football for many years.
Relevantly, Bhutia has stated that the Federation Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) concern that including former players in the General Body (GB) would go against FIFA statutes is misfounded.
In a recent press statement, FIFA announced that it had unanimously decided to suspend the AIFF with immediate effect, preventing India from hosting the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in 2022.
This incident occurred when the CoA, which the Supreme Court had empowered to oversee and write the AIFF’s new constitution, petitioned the court to seek contempt charges against former AIFF President Praful Patel and the officers of seven other state associations.
On August 3, the top court issued an order directing the prompt conduct of the elections for the Executive Committee to lead the AIFF in accordance with the existing draft constitution.
“There is no reason why India ought not to be given the option to move towards a more inclusive structure such as those that are in place in the UK, USA, Italy, and Ivory Coast, and which guarantee a more diverse representation of the key stakeholders,” he submitted.
Additionally, the Court made it clear that players with international experience will be permitted to vote and serve on the executive and general committees, rejecting state associations’ request to bar specific eminent players from casting a vote.
FIFA, however, deemed that these developments constituted “third party interference” that was against FIFA rules and resulted in the suspension.
In his intervention application, Bhutia has thrown his weight behind the reforms the highest court has initiated.
The matter is to be heard by the top court today.
