Football House gearing for "paid honorary officials"?
In a surprising turn of events, the President and the General Secretary of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) have got its Executive Committee to unanimously agree to a proposal for thumping monthly allowances to the two honorary positions. If it is implemented as intended, it will be an historical first in the annals of local sports, as the 2 FFSL office bearers will be the first to become 'paid honorary officials'.
At a time when local Football is at its lowest ebb in the global index, in addition to being a malfunctioning local structure and national setup, experts of the game expressed their displeasure in the manner in which Football is currently governed.
The move to propose allowances to the two top FFSL positions, had taken place at a special convention and programme held at a Holiday Resort in Kukulegama recently. To this meeting, the FFSL administration had also summoned its Executive Committee ( ExCo), where this controversial proposal had come out from a timid member, who stated that, "The FFSL President and General Secretary are 'doing an extraordinary task to lift the game in Sri Lanka, so both of them should be entitled to a deserving monthly allowance". The proposal had been enthusiastically seconded by another ExCo member, a move many Football experts called a "well scripted move".
However, following reports in the local newspapers, of the ' move', the FFSL promptly to released a media statement that the move was never entertained, and it was a mere 'proposal' made by one of its ExCo members.
"Whatever that is circulating around is not accurate. There was a proposal made by one of the ExCo members at the said meeting, but it was not in the agenda. In addition, as the FFSL President, I stalled it from proceeding further, as any proposal tabled and seconded should be ratified at the Council Meeting, according to the FFSL constitution. We issued a clarification on this issue within days," stated FFSL President Anura de Silva.
Despite the FFSL statement which never clearly indicates whether its President or General Secretary would receive the proposed monthly allowances or, they have totally rejected the move, de Silva affirmed that the proposal remains where it is.
"It was rejected and stalled, but will remain as a proposal made. Which means the two positions will remain honorary, as they were. I can confirm that," de Silva added.
In spite of unclear and contradictory responses from many of the FFSL authorities, where some were clueless of the clear outcome of the proposal made, certain experts go on to explain that they are clearly of the view that the proposal has already been legitimately adopted. However, it turns out be that the Football fraternity still awaits a clear and firm explanation from the authorities, on the whole episode.
Meanwhile the FFSL is on the verge of querying the former Financial Committees and its members who served from 2013 to 2017, to clear off the discrepancies of audited annual financial statements for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and the financial statement of 2017. The FFSL, according to reliable sources, have already tasked an international audit firm to conduct a Forensic Audit of the financial statements for that period and are yet to receive a complete report of findings due to certain delays.
According to former officials who are well aware of the football constitution, "the FFSL has no moral right or provisions from the constitution to summon members of its dissolved committees or sub committees."
"However the audit firm that conducts the Forensic Audit has the right to make queries to support their findings from anyone from any given time period, only if the individual is willing. The FFSL can formally call in former officials or members of committees or sub committees, but the individual has all the right and freedom to decide if they wish to appear or simply not turn up, unless it's a legal notice from a judicial body," a former official said.
But former FFSL President, Ranjith Rodrigo explaining on the negatives and positives of the FFSL stated that if at all it should be the Presidents, Treasurers, General Secretaries and the Executive Committees, including former CEOs, who should be answerable for any shortcomings.
According to the FFSL constitution, financial statements are signed by the President and the Treasurer on behalf of the Executive Committee, after they go through a heavy channel which includes the Executive Committee and the Council, after which the General Secretary publishes the audit reports and audited financial statements to the Annual General Meeting. This logically make all in the pipeline liable, including the delegates of the AGM.
Rodrigo's observation however makes him a liable individual as he was the President of FFSL from 2013 to 2015 which also makes Anura de Silva, his successor the for the following tenure of 2015 to 2017. Apparently both Rodrigo and de Silva have been part of the Financial Committees throughout the period of 2013 to 2017. However according FFSL constitution at a legal matter its President will become the plaintiff or defendant.
"It's a very good move, that the FFSL has decided to go for a Forensic Audit. But I believe that those who headed the governing body in the respective periods should be held responsible, if the Forensic Audit Report findings show any discrepancies. If any such had occurred during my tenure, I'm willing to take responsibility and willing to coorporate with any professional entity that is handling the Forensic Audit report, as they are the experts in the area. I can assure that the findings will never be what the current FFSL administration are expecting, and it will have a boomerang effect," Rodrigo firmly said.
Football experts, however, believe the current move by the FFSL hierarchy to go for a Forensic Audit is a good move that could clear all grey areas that have been the talking point for different factions within the sport. At the same time they are of the view that it could be a step to divert the attention of the recent proposal to provide monthly allowances to FFSL's two honorary members.
"End of the day, football, as a sport, remains the same while so much taking place inside the Football House. The FFSL administrators should firmly think of uplifting the game to the next level, which we do not see happening sooner or later," a former top level football coach said.