The Supreme Court-appointed three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) recently submitted the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) final draft constitution to the Supreme Court. Here we are mentioning some key points of this final draft constitution.
CoA and Supreme Court must have to sort out things as early as possible because the AIFF could face a ban from FIFA if they remain unable to organize elections by September 15.
While CoA has set up the final draft constitution after consulting with all the stakeholders, some are unhappy and raising major issues about it.
Here we are pointing out five key elements from AIFF’s final draft constitution
1. I-League is the top-tier league
According to the final draft constitution, I-League will continue to enjoy a top-tier status in the Indian football league system.
The final draft constitution stated, “Senior-most top division league shall mean the league competition owned, operated, recognised and directly managed by the AIFF, that implements the principles of promotion and relegation, and meets all requirements prescribed by the AFC for being eligible to obtain a direct slot in the Asian Champions League.”
It discourages AIFF’s earlier roadmap where ISL was selected as the lone top-tier league from the 2022/23 season while I-League would slip to the second-tier status.
2. Former players will be the key voting members
Every full member shall be represented at the General Body meetings by two representatives, including an ‘eminent’ player from the state is mandatory. Both representatives will have one vote each.
According to the CoA, an ‘eminent’ player would be a former footballer, male or female, who has retired for at least two years and has represented India at the senior level in at least one game.
3. Executive Committee
The final draft constitution has suggested a 12-member executive committee for the AIFF. This 12-member executive committee will consist of one president, one treasurer, five members and five players elected out of the representatives of the state associations.
While there is no place mentioned as vice-president, the honorary positions have also been removed such as ‘Life President’, ‘Chief Patron’, ‘Chairman’ etc.
In the case of a vacant position on the executive committee, it should be get filled by the next Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Also, the definition of officer bearers (president, treasurer and honorary general secretary in the sports code) will be changed.
4. President terms
The final draft constitution suggests that a president can stay in the post for two consecutive terms before going through at least a four-year ‘cooling-off period’.
5. AIFF executive committee members simultaneously can’t hold any other member associations’ post
The final draft constitution claims that anyone can contest AIFF elections, but the office-bearer in the AIFF executive committee can’t hold any office in any other federation or association (of a sport other than football) affiliated to the IOA directly or indirectly.
