Praful Patel has no longer place in AIFF: Sports Ministry tells Supreme Court | Football News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Will Praful Patel now finally step down as president of the All India Football Federation? Last week, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) confirmed to the Supreme Court that Patel and his committee has no mandate to hold on to their offices.
“It is submitted that as the term of the existing committee (of the AIFF) is already over, and the existing president (Praful Patel) has completed more than 12 years as president, the Petitioner (AIFF) should hold elections without further delay as per extant instructions contained under Sports Code and the instructions issued by the Answering Respondent (sports ministry) from time to time,” the MYAS told the Supreme Court, responding to an April 8 affidavit, in relation to the Special Leave Petition filed by Rahul Mehra against the AIFF, in which the Union of India is a respondent.
The AIFF is also in danger of losing its recognition in the eyes of the government for not adhering to the sports code, the ministry added.
Things have come to this pass for Patel and his panel, which has been putting off holding elections, last held on Dec 21, 2016 and due in December 2020. When the time came, Patel, who has already completed three terms and 12 years as AIFF president, and his panel moved Supreme Court on the plea that elections cannot be held due suspension of its constitution.
“As the last elections held by the petitioner was on 21.12.2016, as such the Petitioner is required to conduct fresh elections. While recently the Answering Respondent renewed the Petitioner’s annual recognition for a year with effect from 23.10.2020, such recognition is subject to the outcome of the special leave petition pending before this honourable court,” the ministry added.
“Furthermore, the Answering Respondent in their renewal letter dated 23.10.2020 has categorically stated that the Petitioner needs to bring their constitution in line with provisions of the Sports Code within six months from the date of issue of the letter.
“That thus the tenure of an office bearer of the Petitioner, such as the president, who has already served 12 years as president of AIFF, will be in violation of the Sports Code, specifically clause 9.3 (iii) of the Sports Code…”
Patel is clearly flouting the National Sports Code 2011, where a president of a National Sports Federation cannot continue beyond a maximum of 12 years. In the ensuing 14 months since they moved court, and Patel has stayed on, his committee continues to take all major decisions despite been asked to refrain from it, in addition to representing India at AFC and FIFA Congress, even as rumblings have begun to emerge from within the AIFF with members challenging this position at the top ranks of Indian football’s governing body. While continuing to express helplessness over holding elections, Patel has held on to his position, often shouting down any dissent or questions over elections. Despite the continuing uncertainty at Football House, he was nevertheless conspicuous by his presence at the Qatar 2022 World Cup draw in Doha last week.
In February’s Annual General Meeting in Mumbai, when the question of holding elections was once again raised, this time by NA Haris of the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA), and followed up by other state associations, Patel suggested the formation of a three-man committee to ascertain the legalities of conducting elections. The three-member committee – Haris, Subrata Datta (IFA) and Jessiah Villavarayar (Tamil Nadu) — was expected to submit their report within a month, but its tenure has been kept extending – April 30, early May and now even later.
Patel has already served three four-year terms – a fourth term would make him eligible to contest a spot in the FIFA’s Council, elections to which are due in April 2023, which many AIFF insiders claim he is eyeing.
“It is submitted that as the term of the existing committee (of the AIFF) is already over, and the existing president (Praful Patel) has completed more than 12 years as president, the Petitioner (AIFF) should hold elections without further delay as per extant instructions contained under Sports Code and the instructions issued by the Answering Respondent (sports ministry) from time to time,” the MYAS told the Supreme Court, responding to an April 8 affidavit, in relation to the Special Leave Petition filed by Rahul Mehra against the AIFF, in which the Union of India is a respondent.
The AIFF is also in danger of losing its recognition in the eyes of the government for not adhering to the sports code, the ministry added.
Things have come to this pass for Patel and his panel, which has been putting off holding elections, last held on Dec 21, 2016 and due in December 2020. When the time came, Patel, who has already completed three terms and 12 years as AIFF president, and his panel moved Supreme Court on the plea that elections cannot be held due suspension of its constitution.
“As the last elections held by the petitioner was on 21.12.2016, as such the Petitioner is required to conduct fresh elections. While recently the Answering Respondent renewed the Petitioner’s annual recognition for a year with effect from 23.10.2020, such recognition is subject to the outcome of the special leave petition pending before this honourable court,” the ministry added.
“Furthermore, the Answering Respondent in their renewal letter dated 23.10.2020 has categorically stated that the Petitioner needs to bring their constitution in line with provisions of the Sports Code within six months from the date of issue of the letter.
“That thus the tenure of an office bearer of the Petitioner, such as the president, who has already served 12 years as president of AIFF, will be in violation of the Sports Code, specifically clause 9.3 (iii) of the Sports Code…”
Patel is clearly flouting the National Sports Code 2011, where a president of a National Sports Federation cannot continue beyond a maximum of 12 years. In the ensuing 14 months since they moved court, and Patel has stayed on, his committee continues to take all major decisions despite been asked to refrain from it, in addition to representing India at AFC and FIFA Congress, even as rumblings have begun to emerge from within the AIFF with members challenging this position at the top ranks of Indian football’s governing body. While continuing to express helplessness over holding elections, Patel has held on to his position, often shouting down any dissent or questions over elections. Despite the continuing uncertainty at Football House, he was nevertheless conspicuous by his presence at the Qatar 2022 World Cup draw in Doha last week.
In February’s Annual General Meeting in Mumbai, when the question of holding elections was once again raised, this time by NA Haris of the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA), and followed up by other state associations, Patel suggested the formation of a three-man committee to ascertain the legalities of conducting elections. The three-member committee – Haris, Subrata Datta (IFA) and Jessiah Villavarayar (Tamil Nadu) — was expected to submit their report within a month, but its tenure has been kept extending – April 30, early May and now even later.
Patel has already served three four-year terms – a fourth term would make him eligible to contest a spot in the FIFA’s Council, elections to which are due in April 2023, which many AIFF insiders claim he is eyeing.
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