The Committee of Administrators (COA) and members of some affiliated units reportedly met on Saturday to hold talks and discuss on the way forward on holding the elections of All India Football Federation at the earliest under an amended constitution adhering to the national sports code, FIFA and AFC Statutes.
The members of the Supreme Court appointed CoA – Anil R Dave, Dr SY Quraishi and Bhaskar Ganguly met with the representatives of Bengal (Indian Football Association), Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat and Mizoram in order to discuss the way forward for Indian football.
“It was a very constructive meeting, all the members gave their suggestions. We will examine them and submit it to the Supreme Court with the amended constitution,” Quraishi said when asked on the meeting.
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Ranjit Bajaj, who owns the Delhi Football Club was also present at the meeting, with it being understood that his presence did not go down well with a top AIFF office-bearer as it was the entrepreneur who had filed an application in the Supreme Court, 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,” he said.
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.
