Caitano Jose Fernandez, the president of the Goa Football Association has slammed the Deputy General Secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) M. Satyanaraya after the senior national team’s deteriorating results, particularly after the senior national team’s loss to Hong Kong in the ongoing Asian Cup qualifiers.
The GFA president in his letter has categorically mentioned that much of the blame has to be put on the administration headed by the Deputy Secretary General Mr. M Satyanarayana, whose handling of crucial matters has severely damaged Indian football since he joined AIFF in August 2023.
Fernandez also mentioned that the tenure of Satyanarayana can be marked by scandalous decisions, administrative failures, and political maneuvering which has made the governance unstable and guided national teams to carry with declining performance.
In his letter to the AIFF president, vice-president, and executive committee members, Fernandez has categorically pointed out the allegations which are as follows:
Failure in National Team Development and Political Manipulation:
Satyanarayana has headed the National Team department since August 2023, yet his poor leadership, political interference, and mediocrity have resulted in ‘national team decline, reduced financial support from the Government of India, and stakeholders’ distrust.
His divisive politics extends beyond Member Associations, disrupting AIFF staff operations and hindering long-term national football growth.
‘The alarming decline of the National Team performance across all age groups and genders including the Senior Team must be introspected and someone at the tip needs to be made accountable for this mess. ‘Our ranking has fallen at an alarming pace and it is not wrong to say that Indian football has fallen backward in the last three years.
Disruptive Influence:
AIFF has witnessed two Secretary Generals depart in two years- Shaji Prabhakaran and Mr Anil Kumar. In both instances, Satyanarayana played an instrumental role in their removal.
Unconstitutional Suspension of I-League Relegation:
The Appeal committee halted I-League relegation, an action beyond its jurisdiction. Body As per AIFF statutes, only the League committee, Executive committee, or General authority over such policy decisions.
AIFF secretariat’s mismanagement and questionable governance approach pose serious threats to football administration, requiring urgent corrective action.
Interference in League Committee Decisions:
The AIFF Appeal Committee’s decision on 31st May 2025 overturned the AIFF League Committee’s ruling of 15th February regarding foreign football player replacement by Inter Kashi.
The League committee’s decision had already been approved by the AIFF Executive yet the Appeal committee, influenced by the AIFF secretariat, disregarded governance protocol.
I seek immediate investigation on this matter to find out the official statement submitted Secretariat to the AIFF Disciplinary Committee and Appeal Committees.
Legal contradictions and Risk of Institutional Embarrassment: AIFF Secretariat allowed the registration of the player in question by adhering to ‘the direction of the League committee, and now stands against its prior approval. As we understand this is challenged before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
