SC to hear AIFF’s case on Friday

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed for an urgent hearing in the All India Foodball Federation’s (AIFF) petition to stay Delhi High Court’s October 31 order quashing its elections held on December 21 last year under the supervision of retired Justice B C Kandpal.

The High Court’s ruling in the midst of upcoming football season comprising Indian Super League and I-League starting this month and November 14 being the last day for bidding for the FIFA Under 20 World Cup 2019 has wrongly ousted the executive committee and stopped smooth functioning of the federation, the petition said.

The special leave petition (SLP) of the federation points out that 11 international tournaments in which the national Indian football teams are either participating or participate in the coming months are conducted by FIFA and it recognises only the national team nominated by the national sports federation.

The petition pointed out how FIFA suspended affiliation of the Pakistan Football Federation on Lahore High Court appointing an administrator on it as the FIFA statute a federation is not recognised if functioning through a non-elected body.

If an administrator is appointed to run AIFF, it also faces threat of derecognition, forcing recall of the national teams from all FIFA-certified tournaments and this will remove the footprint of the Indian football internationally.

The petition cited a FIFA letter already received by the federation, seeking clarification on Delhi High Court order, reminding that the federation is obliged to manage its affairs independently and any violation may lead to sanctions, including possible suspension.

If an administrator is appointed, the federation will not be even eligible to be considered for the bidding of the U-20 World Cup 2019, the petition said. It contended that the High Court passed the order on the erroneous premises without sharing the voters” list with the candidates, requirement of nomination by five voting members not in consonance with sports code, violation of the format mandated in the sports code and prevention of Delhi Football Association in the elections.

The petition has clarified on each of the four issues picked up by the High Court in its order, asserting that the Federation’s constitution on elections is in line with the model guidelines prescribed under the sports code that was relied upon by the court.