AIFF elections soon, says administrator Quraishi

KOLKATA: SY Quraishi said fresh All India Football Federation (AIFF) elections would be announced at the earliest and that he would use his experience as administrator of the archery federation to run AIFF.

“We want elections to be announced as early as possible and new office-bearers to take over so that the development of football doesn’t come to a standstill,” Quraishi told Hindustan Times over the phone from Chanrience on Wednesday. It would take around two months for AIFF to complete the electoral process.

The former chief election com- missioner said he would join in a day or two. “It has been over a month that I have been appointed administrator of AAI. That expedigarh will help me handle the affairs of the AIFF” said Quraishi. The Delhi High Court set aside the office-bearers’ election on Tuesday. A day later, AIFF was awaiting a copy of the order.

“FIFA is awaiting an official communication from the AIFF concerning the said matter. We have no further comment for the time being,” said a spokesperson over e-mail on Wednesday, after Hindustan Times sought a response on whether the court order could be construed as interference in the running of AIFF.

The AIFF will decide on its next course of action in consultation with its lawyers, said general secretary Kushal Das.

“The same court that allowed the elections has now set it aside. Till we get the order, we would only be speculating. But if it was about getting five permanent members to propose a candidate, well, it is followed by FIFA and AFC ,” said an AIFF officebearer.

“If we say FIFA has many more members and hence has the five-proposer rule, the AFC has 47 members, only 10 more than AIFF, and still needs five.”

We want elections to be announced as early as possible so that development of football doesn’t come to standstill. SY QURAISHI, AIFF administrator

FIFA is awaiting a communication from the AIFF concerning the said matter. We have no further comment. FIFA spokesperson