New Delhi: The race for one of the most coveted positions in Indian sports — president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) — is getting heated up with former professional football players and politicians vying for the top job. Seven candidates have filed their nominations for the AIFF presidential polls scheduled for 28 August.
Former team India captain Bhaichung Bhutia (45) and former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal goalkeeper-turned-politician Kalyan Chaubey (45), who unsuccessfully contested the 2021 West Bengal polls from Maniktala seat, are the only contenders for the top job who have played professional football.
Then there is Congress leader Manvendra Singh, who is the son of former Union minister late Jaswant Singh and president of Rajasthan Football Association (RFA). Others in the fray include football expert and president of Delhi Football Association, Shaji Prabhakaran, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s brother Ajit Banerjee and Karnataka Congress MLA N.A. Haris.
Valanka Natasha Alemao, who contested Goa Assembly polls earlier this year on an All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) ticket, is the only woman candidate who has filed her nomination for AIFF presidential polls.
A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court on 3 August directed the court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) to conduct elections to the Executive committee of the AIFF. Voting for the panel, which includes the positions of Treasurer and Executive Committee members, is also scheduled for 28 August.
Among those in the fray for a spot on the Executive Committee is former India midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh (36), who is a United Democratic Party MLA in the Meghalaya Assembly, representing Mawphlang constituency.
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Trouble for AIFF
The post of AIFF president was occupied by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Praful Patel until May this year.
Patel, who was first elected to the post in 2009, was re-elected in 2012 and again in 2016. He remained in office until earlier this year despite the end of his tenure in 2020 citing a decision pending with the Supreme Court in a 2017 case.
FIFA, the international governing body of association football, on 15 August suspended the AIFF indefinitely, citing “undue interference by a third party” in the body’s decision-making process. The suspension prohibits Indian teams, both representing country and club, from participating in any international competition. If the suspension is not lifted, India might also not be able to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup scheduled to begin October 11.
While hearing the matter last week, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court had directed the central government to take “proactive steps” to ensure that the suspension of AIFF is lifted. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for Monday.
The CoA, which comprises three members, has also accused Praful Patel of “impliedly” admitting to having “arranged” a letter from FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) threatening a ban on India.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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