Sudeep Pakrashi:
Goa Football Association (GFA) President Caitano Jose Fernandes has sent a strong email to the AIFF President and its Executive Committee, demanding that an immediate show-cause notice be issued to the Federation’s Deputy Secretary General, Satyanarayan M.
Dr. Fernandes, in his email to the AIFF president and the executive committee members, has written, ‘As discussed in the meeting of GFA executive committee on 25th July 2025, I write to you as both member of the AIFF League Committee and the President of Goa Football Association that I am deeply perturbed by the recent communication from the AIFF Legal Counsel in the CAS hearing concerning Inter Kashi’s appeal against the AIFF Appeal Committee’s verdict.’
Fernandes has specifically alleged that the AIFF secretariat, under the direction of the Deputy Secretary General, has deliberately misrepresented and deliberations and majority decision of the League Committee and individual members’ opinion on the re-registration of an Inter Kashi foreign player. According to Caitano’s email, ‘This conduct not only undermines the collective integrity of our governance structures but also constitutes a gross breach of trust toward those members and officials who dedicate their time and expertise to the betterment of Indian football.’
The GFA president also complains about the incompetence and misrepresentation by the Deputy Secretary General and writes, ‘The subsequent CAS ruling on the issue, which went against the AIFF, cast a long shadow over the institution’s reputation and on the world stage.’
As a aftermath, the GFA president has demanded an immediate show-cause notice to be served to the Deputy Secretary General, where he must clarify why his service should not be terminated. Simultaneously, in another demand, the GFA president asked the AIFF secretariat to start an independent inquiry into the role of the AIFF secretariat in undermining the League Committee’s decision-making process.
Dr. Fernandes has also mentioned that he will regrettably have no alternative but to pursue judicial recourse to seek appropriate redress if the Federation fails to initiate decisive action against the Deputy Secretary General.
However, none of the AIFF secretariat was available for their comments on the Caitano Fernandes email.
