Sports News | COA, Affiliated Units Meet to Discuss Way Forward on AIFF's New Constitution and Elections

New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) The Committee of Administrators and members of some affiliated units met here on Saturday to discuss the way forward on holding the elections of All India Football Federation at the earliest under a new constitution adhering to the national sports code, FIFA and AFC Statutes.

Attending the meeting were the Supreme Court-appointed CoA head -- former top court judge Anil R Dave -- his colleagues in the committee -- former chief election commissioner Dr. SY Quraishi and ex-India skipper Bhaskar Ganguly -- and representatives from Bengal (Indian Football Association), Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat and Mizoram.

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Quraishi could not attend the meeting in person as he was not keeping well, but followed the proceedings virtually.

Entrepreneur Ranjit Bajaj, who owns the Delhi Football Club, was also present at the Football House as one of the petitioners, something that did not go down well with a top AIFF office-bearer.

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It was Bajaj's club that had filed an application in the SC, alleging illegal continuation of the Praful Patel-led executive committee despite its term expiring in December 2020.

"I was there as one of the petitioners. It was my club -- Delhi Football Club -- that had filed an application in the SC. It was an interception petition, which heard in the court and Patel was finally removed.

"I am assisting the COA in a ex-officio capacity," Bajaj told PTI.

Quraishi had said that a newly-elected body of the AIFF should be in place by September end and a modified constitution will be submitted to the Supreme Court by July 15.

The Supreme Court had on May 18 appointed a three-member CoA to manage the affairs of the AIFF and form its constitution in line with the National Sports Code and model guidelines.

"We had a very fruitful meeting and everyone present in the meeting was on the same page as far as holding of elections and forming of new constitution are concerned," said Shaji Prabhakaran, president of Delhi Football.

The CoA will brief the FIFA delegation about its willingness to complete the task assigned to them by the top court within the stipulated time.

A FIFA delegation is set to visit the country from June 21-23.

As per the timeline set by the court, a draft AIFF constitution prepared by the CoA in line with the National Sports Code must be circulated among the stakeholders and their feedback sent to CoA counsel Samar Bansal by June 30.

The CoA must place the constitution before SC by July 15. The next hearing is on July 21.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)