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Baichung Bhutia lost his trust in AIFF

Bhaichung also questioned the credibility of the people who have been included in the core committee…reports writes Jagannath Chatterjee

Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia doesn’t seem to be too impressed with the recent formation of a core committee by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), as he feels there is “no trust or coordination” among the current members of the apex body, who have “no idea as to who is doing what”.

The AIFF recently constituted a core committee that will manage certain areas of the game in close collaboration with its Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran.

The areas are: Procurement and tendering; budget and financials; infrastructure, office renovation and new project development; new staff recruitment or old staff release; and NFC and club football organisational decisions.

In a free-flowing chat with IANS, Bhaichung (46), the once poster boy of Indian football, shared his views on the issues concerning the sport in the country, particularly the ‘mess’ in the game’s governing body.

“It’s a free-for-all in AIFF. What the President (Kalyan Chaubey) is doing, what the Secretary General is doing… There is no communication between each other.

“The way AIFF is being run, I would say it is in a complete mess. You have President Kalyan Chaubey bypassing several state associations and holding tournaments without taking them into confidence.

“We saw that happen in Manipur, where the state association wrote to the AIFF Executive Committee saying they were bypassed when a tournament was held.

“Similarly, they also held a tournament in Sikkim without involving the state association. They held a private tournament where Kalyan Chaubey was present as chief guest. The clubs were not recognised in the state league. So, to me, the Federation is in a big mess,” Bhaichung said.

In the first week of May, the President of Andhra Pradesh Football Association, Gopalakrishna Kosaraju, had written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), seeking its direction to the Department of Sports to conduct a detailed inquiry into the alleged ‘irregularities’ in AIFF.

While the Department of Sports has since closed the matter, Kosaraju has now filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the decision, terming it as ‘erroneous’ and ‘casual’.

When asked if Kosaraju’s letter to PMO against AIFF could be one of the reasons behind the formation of the core committee, Bhaichung said: “I think he (Kosaraju) has written a very valid letter.

“He was very specific about India’s withdrawal from bidding for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup men’s football championship. How can a President or a General Secretary take such a decision?

“Asian Cup is the biggest tournament for any footballer in India. World Cup is the biggest, and the second is Asian Cup. Even Olympics is not as big because it doesn’t involve professional footballers.

“The earlier management had bid, but this new management came and withdrew it and left it for Saudi Arabia. So, this is a very very dodgy deal that has gone through.

To recall, in his letter to the PMO, Kosaraju had said that “India’s withdrawal from bidding creates doubts that the President and General Secretary colluded with the Saudi Arabia Football Federation to benefit them in hosting the AFC Asian Cup”.

Bhaichung continued, “Soon after India withdrew from bidding, Saudi Arabia hosted the knockouts of Santosh Trophy in Riyadh, which was pointless. You see, it is only a favour and I don’t know what favour Saudi Arabia is doing by hosting India’s Santosh Trophy matches in Riyadh.

“It’s just that India withdrawing from bidding has made Saudi Arabia the favourites to win it. This matter should be investigated by the Sports Ministry. And that is what Kosaraju has also written.”

Bhaichung also questioned the credibility of the people who have been included in the core committee.

According to the AIFF letter announcing its formation, the committee comprises N.A. Haris (Chairman), Avijit Paul (Deputy Chairman), Tetea Hmar, Mulrajsinh Chudasama, and Vijay Bali.

“I think the committee itself is very dodgy. See the background of its members… Their contribution to football in India is zero. Even in their own states, it is zero. They have killed football in their states. Now the same guys are in the committee to run Indian football. So how do you expect football to change?

“Avijit Paul (Football Association of Orissa) is not even the president or secretary of his state association. Now, I don’t know how he got to represent Odisha. As far as I know, he is some junior joint secretary who has nothing to do with football.

“In fact, the state association also doesn’t do anything, because the Odisha government does everything. Whatever is being done, is being done by the Odisha government. So what is the football association doing?

“So, I really think AIFF is in a big, big mess,” Bhaichung concluded.

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Bhaichung Bhutia files fresh nomination for AIFF president’s post

The nominations for the posts can be filed between August 25 to 27 while the scrutiny will be done on August 28, the returning officer had said…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the hectic activities in the All India Football Federation over the filing of nomination for the Executive Committee election, the posterboy of Indian Football, Bhaichung Bhutia has filed his fresh nomination for the post of President.

Sources close to the development told that his nomination was proposed by the Andhra Football Association and seconded by Rajasthan Football Association.

After the termination of the Committee of Administrators (CoA), as demanded by the international football federation (FIFA), the returning officer on Tuesday issued fresh dates for the elections to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Executive Committee.

After the SC order, the returning officer Umesh Sharma had stated that the election will be held on September 2 at the AIFF headquarter in Delhi and the results could be announced either on September 2 or 3.

The nominations for the posts can be filed between August 25 to 27 while the scrutiny will be done on August 28, the returning officer had said.

The candidates will have a chance to withdraw the nomination on August 29 while the returning officer shall prepare the final list of contesting candidates and put it on the AIFF website on August 30.

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AIFF set to host Men’s Asian Cup 2023

We understand that playing at home, and that too in Kolkata will be an added advantage to the Blue Tigers in our quest to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.”…reports Asian Lite News

After successfully hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Maharashtra, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is now set to host the Final Qualifying Round for next year’s men’s Asian Cup to be held in China.

India’s bid to host the qualifiers at Kolkata has been accepted by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the AIFF informed on Thursday.

“The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has accepted India’s bid to host the third round of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers which are to be held June 8, 2022, onwards. The AIFF will be hosting the leg at the VYBK (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan) in Kolkata,” the AIFF said in a report on its website.

“While 13 teams, including host China PR, have already qualified by virtue of their earlier performances in the second round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers, the final 11 places remain up for grabs for 24 teams in the decisive Group Stage to be held in June across all five AFC zones in six host nations – India, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia and Uzbekistan,” the AFC confirmed in a statement on its official website.

The AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers Final Round will be held across three match days on June 8, 11 and 14, 2022, with the group winners, and the best 5 second-placed teams earning a ticket to the Asian Cup in China which is slated to kick-off on June 16, 2023. The draw for the final leg of the qualifiers is scheduled for February 24 in an online event from Malaysia.

“We had bid to host the third round Qualifiers of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023, and are grateful to the Asian Football Confederation for accepting our bid,” AIFF General Secretary Kushal was quoted as saying in the statement.

“We understand that playing at home, and that too in Kolkata will be an added advantage to the Blue Tigers in our quest to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.”

India have participated in the AFC Asian Cup finals six times, finishing runners-up in 1964 when the event was won by hosts Israel.

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