VOTING RIGHTS TO PLAYERS IN APEX COURT ORDER ON AIFF ELECTIONS

The Supreme Court on Wednesday approved inducting former internationals into the general body of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). It also ordered elections but because the constitution is being finalised, the new office-bearers will be in charge for three months. This is to ensure that India fulfills the FIFA mandate of having a democratically elected body by September 15 as a condition for hosting the under-17 women’s World Cup in October.

Justices Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and JB Pardiwala said: “The present body of AIFF will continue for three months. They cannot claim any equities and will be subject to further orders so that the constitution can be finalised in the meantime.”

The AIFF general body will now have 72 representatives, double of what it used to be. For this election, 36 affiliates of AIFF will send a representative from the state association and an eminent player with both having voting rights. All those who have represented the senior India team once and has retired at least two years prior to the date of notification of elections qualifies as eminent player. The Supreme Court appointed committee of administrators (CoA), now in charge of running AIFF, has been asked to prepare a list of eminent players within 10 days. Of the 36 eminent players, 24 will be men and 12 women internationals, the court said. As per the CoA, the election will take place on August 28 and counting will complete by August 29. The CoA is headed by retired Supreme Court judge AR Dave with former chief election commissioner SY Quriashi and Bhaskar Ganguly, former India captain, as members. In its draft constitution, CoA had said each state should have two votes including one from an eminent player.

The bench said: “Consistent with the need of sport of football in India, sportspersons who represented the country will be of immense benefit for the development of sport in a healthy manner.”

The court directed the elections be held in accordance with the National Sports Code and Article 26 of the draft Constitution which provides for a fixed tenure and age limit. As per the draft constitution, all those who have served 12 years in AIFF will be ineligible to contest this election.

As per the draft, the executive committee, to be elected by the general body, will have five representatives from state associations, five eminent players and the president and treasurer. The AIFF secretary is a paid post and hence exempt from elections.