all India The football federation is looking to adopt an inclusive approach with greater participation of former India players at the state level including voting rights in elections.
The Cricket Board of India (BCCI) has already made voting rights mandatory for its former international players in state unit elections and it seems the football body under the aegis of the AIFF may go the same way.
In fact, the AIFF, in a circular, has sought details of all former India international players who have played five matches in the national color and have retired from active football for at least two years.
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“The COA is contemplating to make provision for the former footballers of the country to participate in a big way in the football development of the country. In the new constitution of AIFF, a provision will be made to include former players in the central and state associations.
The CoA, headed by Justice Anil Dave (Former Judge, Supreme Court of India), Dr. SY Qureshi (Former Chief) Election Commissioner), and Bhaskar Ganguly (former football captain of India) recently met a seven-member committee representing AIFF’s state associations to discuss various aspects and suggestions on the draft constitution.
In the two-hour meeting, SA representatives put forward several ideas for consideration by the COA. It is learned that during the discussion the state associations and the CoA decided to involve more former footballers for the development of the game in the country.
“The idea is to have more former football players in the administrative system. Suppose a player retires from club football at the age of 38 and has played five full international (not under-23) games for India. Then at the age of 40, he will be eligible to be part of at least one state body,” the source said.
It is not just about right to vote but it is about having more say in sports as well as administrative matters.
“All those former players, who have made the country proud but have never been made stakeholders even at the state level, can raise their voice to change things after the new constitution comes into force,” the source said.
Earlier, the members of the CoA held a cordial and progressive meeting with the new Acting General Secretary of AIFF Sunando Dhar along with coach, captain and players Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan.
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