FIFA Bans AIFF – FIFA BAN SC Hearing: The Supreme Court has passed an order to hand over AIFF day to day affairs back to Secretary General Sunando Dhar. Once he takes charge, the CoA (Committee of Administrators) will cease to exist. However, the SC has also extended the AIFF Election by a week. The central government on Sunday moved an application in the Supreme Court, desperate to get the FIFA ban revoked. The government ceded to all demands of FIFA and sought an end to the “mandate” of the Committee of Administrators (CoA), as demanded by the world governing body. Follow InsideSport.IN For Football Latest updates
FIFA suspended AIFF on the account of third-party interference. The CoA is considered a third-party. But the Supreme Court’s order is now a major relief for Indian football. With Sunando Dhar taking the charge back, the CoA will be disbanded and AIFF can apply to FIFA to revoke the suspension.
FIFA Bans AIFF: Supreme Court scarps CoA, acting Secretary General Sunando Dhar to take charge, AIFF Election extended by a week: Follow LIVE Updates
- Supreme Court on CoA: As soon as Secretary General Sunando Dhar takes charge, CoA will cease to exist.
- Supreme Court on U17 Women’s World Cup: The directions have been issued to help revoke the FIFA ban and to ensure that hosting of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and participation are not affected. SC will pass further orders if it doesn’t reach any logical conclusion.
- SC Verdict: Secretary General will look into day to day matters of the AIFF.
- SC Proposal: The election date has been extended by a week. The voters’ list should consist of representatives of 36 state associations. The returning officer will continue and should be considered SC representative.
- AIFF Elections: As per Government of India, 17 members will be elected by the electoral college consisting of representatives of the State Associations. 6 eminent players (4 men, 2 women) will make the number to 23.
- Praful Patel Defends Himself: Kapil Sibal who is representing Praful Patel, says, “I Brought U17 World Cup to India. But you can continue with criminal case if there is any contempt on my part. I do not want any position in the AIFF.
- SC asks for a 10-minute discussion time: An interim report with respect to AIFF’s audit has been submitted by Deloitte to CoA. There are findings of siphoning off.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta: Right now we propose 25% of the Elected Executive Committee be of eminent players. Today, I have received application by Bhaichung Bhutia. He is a legend of the game. GoI would request his services for a much larger role that what he is aiming at. I am not commenting on the contents of his application.
- Meanwhile – Bhaichung Bhutia has reportedly filed an intervention petition in the Supreme Court. Bhutia is supporting AIFF’s new Constitution and the 36-member electoral college of eminent players.
- Advocate Rahul Mehra: … All this has been created by Praful Patel and his seven people. Same thing happened in BCCI case and court had come down heavily on them.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta: The result of suspension is disastrous. We will lose right to host (U-17) World Cup. None of our players can play international football in any part of the world.
FIFA Bans AIFF: Supreme Court extends AIFF Election date by a week, Secretary General Sunando Dhar to take over ending CoA rule: Follow LIVE Updates
The world body had on August 15 imposed a ban on All India Football Federation (AIFF) due to “third party interference” and said that the women’s age-group showpiece “cannot currently be held in India as planned”.
The government in its application has virtually accepted all the demands made by the FIFA, including ending the tenure of the SC-appointed CoA as well as not allowing individual members in the electoral college.
It, however, said that the ousted Praful Patel-led dispensation should be excluded from the AIFF.
“…this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to … direct that day-to-day management of AIFF shall be looked after by the AIFF administration led by the acting Secretary General to the exclusion of the earlier elected body and the CoA will have no role in the administration of AIFF from 22.08.2022,” the application read.
“… to require the CoA to submit the final draft constitution to this Hon’ble Court by the end of 23.08.2022, and that the mandate of the COA be declared to be over in full from 23.08.2022.”
In its statement while suspending AIFF, the FIFA had said the lifting of the suspension on AIFF will be subject to repealing of CoA’s mandate in full. FIFA also said that it wants the AIFF administration to “be fully in charge of the AIFF’s daily affairs”.
FIFA Bans AIFF: Supreme Court extends AIFF Election date by a week, Secretary General Sunando Dhar to take over ending CoA rule: Follow LIVE Updates
The world body had said that it wants an “independent electoral committee to be elected by the AIFF general assembly to run the elections of a new executive committee”.
It had also said that the AIFF must hold its elections based on the pre-existing membership of the AIFF” (i.e state associations only without individual members).
After the SC approved the holding of 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 the president’s post, though the returning officer on Sunday rejected two of them after the proposer and seconder said they have not signed any nomination paper of any candidate.
One of the government plea, that of not allowing eminent players as individual members in the electoral college, if accepted by the SC may put Bhutia’s candidature under a cloud as he has been proposed and seconded by an eminent player each.
“Because of the suggested changes in the electoral college, the process of election may be required to be started ‘de novo’ since the change in the voters list may affect the validity of some of the nomination forms which may have been proposed/seconded by the player members who are now prayed for being excluded from the voters’ list,” the government plea read.
The government also made a plea to modify the election programme approved by the top court in its August 3 order but said that the returning officer and his assistant, who were appointed by the CoA to conduct AIFF polls on August 28, be allowed to continue.
FIFA Bans AIFF: Supreme Court extends AIFF Election date by a week, Secretary General Sunando Dhar to take over ending CoA rule: Follow LIVE Updates
“… direct for election from the stage stipulated on 13.08.2022 (date of election notification) based upon the voters list containing representatives of member associations only which already published excluding the 36 players.
“and be pleased to direct the Returning Officers to complete all stages of election up to the counting of votes and declaration of results with such changed dates as this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to specify.”
The government also proposed that the Executive Committee of the AIFF may consist of 23 members, including six eminent players.
“The 17 members (inclusive of the president, a treasurer, and one vice president) will be elected by the above electoral college.
“Out of the six eminent payers, four will be men and two will be women. The eminent players may be nominated (co-opted) in the EC and shall have the voting rights in Executive Committee, thus making their representation to be around 25 percent of the EC.”
The government said the “problem facing the country is acute and it is of utmost importance that India does not lose its right to host the prestigious FIFA Under-17 Women World Cup, 2022 nor the brilliant football players of the country (irrespective of the age group) are deprived of participating in international competitions.
“An indulgence by this Hon’ble Court is the only way forward and will serve a larger interest of the nation.
“This Honble Court has the power to do complete justice and this would be one of those rarest of rare case where this Hon’ble Court may, if required, bend any procedural rules to do complete justice.”
FIFA Bans AIFF: Supreme Court extends AIFF Election date by a week, Secretary General Sunando Dhar to take over ending CoA rule: Follow LIVE Updates
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