The Supreme Court on Monday directed scrapping of the mandate of the three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA), headed by a former apex court judge.
The committee was appointed about two months ago to manage the affairs of the national football body AIFF.
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The top court said it is modifying its earlier orders to facilitate the suspension imposed by FIFA on AIFF and cancellation of the U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 in India.
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 is into cricket and it is considering a big role for him because of his contribution to Indian football and the government will request him that the target he has in AIFF (President’s post) may not suit his stature .
Bhutia, who has moved the apex court saying that the draft constitution of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) drafted by the CoA should be adopted, said that though he has made 100 appearances for India over a period of 10 years in the current situation. Played more matches. In the national football body, he does not know whether he will be able to get involved in the administration of football in this country.
The top court also sought an interim and final report of the forensic audit of the AIFF, on the alleged misappropriation of funds by the Praful Patel-led management committee, to be submitted to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and verbally directed. And rigging was indicated. To proceed under this 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 I have no chance of getting into its administration if the current reform process is not allowed to continue”, 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 her what would happen if the court claimed its right and sacrificed the Under-17 Women’s 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 “sticking” 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.
(Inputs from PTI)