Football in the limelight for all the wrong reasons once again?
Just as the situation in Sri Lanka and its constitution, which are currently in the news headlines globally for all the wrong reasons, former President of Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), Ranjith Rodrigo too seems to be following suite. Rodrigo is back in the news, for the wrong reason perhaps, based on a press release he issued after the present FFSL officials votes in favour of a constitutional amendment tabled at the Annual Congress of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on October 31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
After Rodrigo's statement was published on a few local newspapers last week, the present administration of FFSL has taken steps to make it an issue of 'discipline and ethics' citing that the former football head has brought 'disrepute' to the sport through his statement.
This decision to take stern 'disciplinary and legal' action against Rodrigo's statement, was taken after an Executive Committee meeting last week, according to reports.
"We have sent his (Rodrigo's) statement and cuttings of the newspaper reports and their translations, according to the requirement of the AFC. We are waiting for a response from them (AFC) but we will not push into it seriously. I cannot state anything further on this as this is not a serious matter to focus on," Jaswar Umar, the General Secretary of FFSL told the Sunday Times.
Strangely, in his statement Rodrigo goes on to endorse what the Minister of Sports, Faiszer Musthapha, who made a serious statement based on the 'foreign policy' of Sri Lanka but not with regard to any move that could harm sport administration. Minister Musthapha had earlier advised the FFSL officials to make the most suitable decision in accordance, according to an FFSL statement, but also had stated that the AFC move to amend its constitution was against the ' foreign policy' of Sri Lanka.
According to the now passed amendments of the AFC, it would open the opportunity for non- members or outsiders to become members of its Executive Committee in place of elected members from member countries. Local football experts call the intended constitutional amendment as a 'breach of Foreign Policy adopted by Sri Lanka' as well as a obstruction of rights earned by the FFSL representatives of the AFC.
The former constitution of AFC states that member countries, who are part of its Executive Committee, could nominate two members at special sittings or Annual General Meetings, but the newly adopted change would see representatives from non- member countries of AFC playing vital roles in voting as well as decision making. Sri Lanka voted in favour of the AFC constitutional changes which was passed 42 in favour and four against.
"FFSL's action at the AFC Annual Congress has become a talking point in the country and as a former President of FFSL and a country representative at regional and international level. It's my duty and responsibility to make my opinion on this issue. Sri Lanka has established a Ministry of Sports and a Minister of Sports, to the betterment of sports in general of the country. It not only observes only football, but over 60 sports associations in the country. While abiding by the constitutions of FFSL, AFC and FIFA, the football administrators should also give an ear to the Minister of Sports and abide by the country's Sports Laws. On that term the current FFSL has acted blindly, instead of making a connective decision and discussing matters with the AFC in advance," Rodrigo's statement says.
The Minister of Sports had told FFSL officials to act in accordance to the best interest of the country and football in using the vote at the AFC Annual Congress. However the Minister of Sports had clearly told the FFSL officials that he would not interfere or force the FFSL on how to vote.
"The FFSL should have told the Minister of Sports of their decision in voting, given the circumstances. The FFSL officials could have then discussed the issue with the AFC, which I'm sure that, the regional officials would understand. It's not easy to take back a decision already made. That's when the importance of making collective decisions work well. The AFC has all the right to table constitutional changes or amendments, and member countries have all the rights to vote in favour or against. But with Sri Lanka's position coming into a balance, the FFSL officials could have met the AFC officials earlier on, and explained their situation. They ( FFSL) could have easily elaborated the AFC on Sri Lanka's stance on this and conveyed the Minister of Sports' concern. Sri Lanka could have easily abstained from voting explanations. I'm sure the AFC would understand, but unfortunately present FFSL officials didn't understand that possibility," the statement goes on to say.
Following the AFC Annual Congress, where Sri Lanka votes in favour of the constitutional amendments, the Minister of Sports signaled of a possible appointment of an Interim Committee to the FFSL, risking the President's position of Anura de Silva and his elected officials in 2015. Following that speculation, which came before Rodrigo's statement, the former FFSL President has opined of appointing a 'Normalisation Committee' in place of an Interim Committee, as stated by the Minister of Sports, and keeping the sport intact with the world after consulting FIFA and the AFC.
However Rodrigo's statement has been taken with a negative approach by the current FFSL administration, according to football experts, who are of the view that this is a totally unwanted trouble. Interestingly Rodrigo is of the view that the whole exercise is a result of a 'conspiracy', that is interested to see him off football for good.
"I will not run away, and even if the matter reaches further, I will go to the highest level and explain matters. In a democratic country and a sports administration that enjoys democracy, everyone has the equal right to give their opinion. I am a former FFSL President, a former Association Committee Member of FIFA, a Senior Vice President of SAFF and a former Audit and Development Committee Member of AFC and I know ethics and I practice ethics all the time, even today," Rodrigo told the Sunday Times.
Rodrigo, who was at the helm of the FFSL during 2013 and 2015 has been involved with FFSL since 1996 and has been the President of Negombo Youth FC for the past 23 years as well as the Negombo Football League. During his two-year tenure Rodrigo handled 18 legal cases against the former FFSL administration and won 15 out of them, while three cases are still pending.