The All India Football Federation, in its virtual Special General Meeting (SGM) on Monday, has formally adopted Article 25.3 (c) and (d) of the constitution following the directive of the Supreme Court.
On Monday, out of 33 state association representatives, 27 association representatives attended the virtual meeting and 24 out of them voted for the adoption of Article 25 (c) and (d), while three state association representatives voted against the adoption, especially against Article 25 (D). Among the three, IFA and Mizoram are two while Odisha State Association has sought a couple of days’ time to know its final decision on the adaptation of the article.
According to Article 25.3 (c) and (d), an office bearer in the Executive Committee of the AIFF cannot hold a position as an office bearer in a member/state association.
Now, after the adaptation of the Articles, the AIFF constitution is being followed by the Supreme Court directions and the framework recommended by Retired Justice L. Nageswara Rao. The adaptation will be effective from September next year, after the AIFF’s present administrative term ends. At the same time, the AIFF top brass is expecting that the office bearers in the executive committee will ultimately be relaxed from the implementation of two articles by September next year with the introduction of the ‘National Sports Code’.
Meanwhile, the AIFF is now reportedly depending on the Union sports ministry’s initiative to convince the FSDL to run the ISL again and at the same time, the company’s consent to pay the amount of Rs 37.5 Crores to the AIFF as mentioned in the bidding tenders. One of the executive committee members revealed on condition of anonymity, “Federation needs Rs 40 to 45 Crores to conduct all other premier tournaments other than ISL. So, we are hopeful that the Union sports ministry will be able to convince the investor, which will ultimately take up the ISL and at the same time, will ensure the amount we need. Even if Federation is ensured with Rs 37.5 Crores, the remaining financial assistance can be managed by the AIFF itself.”
