Former Indian skipper and legendary goalkeeper Bhaskar Ganguly fumed at the ‘unfair’ expulsion of Manoranjan Bhattacharya from the All India Football Federation's technical committee. Bhattacharya has been replaced by Bihar's Santosh Singh who does not have any international cap either as a player or coach. 

Bhaskar Ganguly also worked as ombudsman along with former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y Qureshi from 2017 to 2020. 

Ganguly speaking on the issue, “I am anguished after going through the news. How could AIFF do this? Removing such a great footballer with superb technical knowledge from the technical committee? Even they did not maintain the courtesy of informing him before taking such a decision. Indian football should be ashamed.”

The Indian captain at the 1982 Asian is more surprised with the replacement of Manoranjan by Bihar’s Santosh Singh who has no international cap either as a footballer or a coach. “Who is he? What is his contribution either as a player or as a coach?” said Ganguly. 

He also attacked the AIFF top brass explaining, "We were the initiators behind the change in the All India Football Federation (AIFF). We also initiated the election maintaining the national sports code where 25 percent would consist of former India internationals. So far I know, that eight former Indian internationals including the president are on the executive committee. 

"But what is happening now? Goats are being used for paddy farming! Technical committee members are making decisions through video conference! Why they should not be asked to roam around? To watch matches before selecting footballers or coaches? The president himself was a footballer. How is he indulging in nepotism? Otherwise can anyway Santosh Singh be replaced by Manoranjan?” 

Ganguly claims the AIFF president as well as the executive committee members must have to answer to their unfair and dictatorial activities. “I am equally surprised and upset with the silence from the media and the other former footballers who know Manoranjan,” concluded Ganguly.