AIFF vs FIFA: FIFA sends Recommendation to AIFF – FIFA has sent its recommendation to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to reduce the number of eminent players represented in the Executive Committee. In its draft AIFF constitution, the CoA has decided to keep 50% as co-opted members. FIFA however, has asked AIFF to reduce it to 25%. This comes in reply to the draft constitution sent to FIFA on 13th July by CoA. Follow Indian Football LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
AIFF vs FIFA: FIFA sends recommendation to AIFF for Draft Constitution, asks CoA to reduce number of Co-Opted Members of Executive Committee- Check Out
In response to that, FIFA-AFC made its observations in a letter written to AIFF acting general secretary Sunando Dhar.
“As per the draft Statutes shared with us, there will be an additional 35 Eminent Players in the AIFF Congress from the existing 35 Member Associations. Although we agree that the players’ voice needs to be heard, we are also of the view that the importance of the existing members of the AIFF should not be undermined,” it said in the letter.
“To bring in 50 percent of the members in the Congress structure which equals the current membership structure is not a prudent idea, and the AIFF should seek to be more diverse in future. However, we understand the requirements of the Sports Code of India and recommend AIFF to bring in a presence of above 25 percent of the Eminent Players in the AIFF Executive Committee as Co-opted Members.”
The draft constitution also says that a state association office-bearer who becomes AIFF executive member shall automatically relinquish the state body post and vice versa.
AIFF vs FIFA: FIFA sends recommendation to AIFF for Draft Constitution, asks CoA to reduce number of Co-Opted Members of Executive Committee- Check Out
However, FIFA-AFC said “such a proposal would make it difficult for the Members to get re-elected again at the respective Member Associations in the event that they cannot serve their full term in the Executive Committee of AIFF for any reason.”
AIFF vs FIFA: FIFA sends recommendation to AIFF for Draft Constitution, asks CoA to reduce number of Co-Opted Members of Executive Committee- Check Out
According to Article 25.5 of the draft constitution, “if the President is permanently or temporarily prevented from performing his/her official function, the Executive Committee shall decide a person to represent him or her until the next AGM (Annual General Body Meeting) or SGM, whichever is earlier.”
However, FIFA-AFC said “it would undermine the importance of the elected officials by the AIFF Congress as it would appear to grant the Executive Committee the power to bring in a person to represent [the President] even from outside of the Executive Committee.”
“Another option would be to create the position of Vice-President / Vice- Presidents in the AIFF Executive Committee and provide in the AIFF Statutes that such official(s) would step in, in the absence of the President.”
The message from FIFA comes 2 days prior to the hearing of the draft constitution set by the Supreme Court. Last Thursday, 21st July the Supreme Court opened the hearing of the case. Following this, the court was adjourned and the next date was set as 28th July. It is understood that the apex court will be hearing all the objections made by state federations and the FSDL against AIFF.
As per the deadline set by FIFA, the AIFF constitution needs to be drafted within the stipulated deadline day of 31st July. Falling to do so will welcome the FIFA ban on AIFF. Further directions from FIFA state that the democratically elected AIFF body and elections needs to take place by 15th September.
AIFF vs FIFA: FIFA sends recommendation to AIFF for Draft Constitution, asks CoA to reduce number of Co-Opted Members of Executive Committee- Check Out
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