Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia and the Committee of Administrators (CoA) on Monday told the Supreme Court that the reform process in national football body AIFF should be allowed to continue despite threats from FIFA.
Center tells apex court that Bhutia is a legend like football Sachin Tendulkar or Sunil Gavaskar Cricket And it is considering a bigger role for him because of his contribution to Indian football and the government will request him that his target in AIFF (President’s post) may not be suitable for his stature.
Bhutia, who has moved the apex court saying that the draft of the Constitution of All is ready India The Football Federation (AIFF), drafted by the CoA, should have adopted that although he has played more than 100 matches for India over a period of 10 years in the current position in the national football body, it is not known whether he will be able to join or No the administration of football in this country.
The top court also sought an interim and final report of the forensic audit of the AIFF, allegedly conducted by the Praful Patel-led management committee, by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Play and verbally instructed it to proceed under the law.
A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, to look into the proposal to consider Bhutia for a post appropriate to his stature in the football administration.
Advocate Raghenath Basant, appearing for Bhutia, said his only concern was to address the vested interests in the football administration in the country.
“I captained India in football and played 107 matches in a span of ten years. I may be a great player but if the current reform process is not allowed to continue then I have no chance of getting into its administration”, Basant said.
He said that despite FIFA’s objections and reforms being in the larger interest of the sport, the court has to instruct the court to implement its draft constitution.
The bench asked him what would happen if the court claimed its right and sacrificed under-17 women? World cup.
Basant said India had hosted the Under-17 Men’s World Cup four years ago but what had happened, India was still ranked 104th in the world in the game.
“If you ask even a small child, he will tell you that there is no chance of India qualifying for the FIFA World Cup. Instead I will give up the Under-17 Women’s World Cup and go for reforms and aim for the main World Cup”, he said.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the CoA, clarified that the committee has no intention of “clinging” to the management of AIFF and it was a court order which they were complying with.
He objected to the tone and tone of FIFA’s letters, saying it amounted to curtailing the authority of the court and calling for third party intervention.
Sankaranarayanan said that reforms are necessary for the football administration and informed the court that the CoA has hired a private agency for a forensic audit during this period and it has given its interim report, which reveals a massive amount of money. Shows misappropriation and misappropriation of money in the past. management.
They said that the contempt petition is pending and they want the persons not to be allowed to participate in the election process of AIFF.
The bench asked Sankaranarayanan to be the amicus curiae in the matter and said he may hand over one copy of the forensic audit to the court and the other to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Mehta said if the court directs, the Sports Ministry is ready to look into the report as per the procedure laid down under the law.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, who is the original petitioner before the Delhi High Court, submitted that the dissolution of the CoA may have an impact on other sports bodies, where such committees have been created by court orders as it would set a precedent.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for former AIFF president Praful Patel, said he was not interested in holding any position in the national football body and only wanted to hold the World Cup here and for that he would support Mehta. are doing. Presented.
“I don’t want any post in AIFF. I have brought the World Cup for the country and I want it to be organized,” Sibal said.
Mehra said that Patel has also brought the suspension of AIFF.
The bench asked Sibal whether Patel would also withdraw from FIFA, to which he said he was an elected member of the International Football Federation.
Sankaranarayanan said that he was elected to FIFA because of his position in the AIFF and since he is no longer in the AIFF, he should have pulled out of the FIFA Council as well.
Sibal replied that he was an elected member of FIFA, not a nominee.
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