CoA submits AIFF draft constitution to Supreme Court

The next date of the Supreme Court hearing on the matter is July 21.

The final draft constitution of the All India Football Federation, which has been framed by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), has been submitted to the Supreme Court for its approval.

It was submitted to the apex court on Friday, the AIFF said in a very statement on Saturday.

AIFF acting general secretary Sunando Dhar said:”After a lengthy set of discussions with various stakeholders, the draft Constitution of the AIFF has finally been submitted to the honourable court.

“I would really like to congratulate everyone involved within the process, on this swift move forward, and hope that with the new constitution in situ, we will move ahead with developing Indian football.” The CoA, which has been appointed by the apex court on May 18 this year, comprises Justice (retired) Anil R Dave, former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr SY Quraishi and former India captain Bhaskar Ganguly.

The apex court directed the CoA to help in facilitating the adoption of the constitution and prepare electoral rolls for the aim of conducting elections of the AIFF at the earliest.

Since then, within the course of formulating the draft constitution, the CoA has “put in additional than 150 hours of labor and has spoken to all or any the AIFF’s stakeholders, including state associations, FIFA, AFC, ISL and I-League clubs and thought of suggestions forwarded by them”.

Three days ago, the CoA sent the ultimate draft constitution to world football organisation, FIFA.

The exercise was in consonance with the strict deadlines set by the FIFA-AFC team that visited the country last month to require stock of the case after the Supreme Court ousted the Praful Patel-led dispensation of the AIFF for not holding elections on time “After lots of deliberation, we've got finally narrowed down on a draft constitution that may put the AIFF in line with the National Sports Code, additionally as help it function efficiently as a member association of the FIFA and also the AFC,” said Quraishi.

“We are confident that with these set of changes, the federation will now be during a good position to guide Indian football further ahead.” Justice Dave stated: “We have taken into consideration all the stakeholders involved in Indian football and their respective valued point of views over the newly-framed constitution.

“We also received some suggestions from football lovers across the country and studied them minutely and seriously. I wish all parties involved the easiest as we all attempt to take the gorgeous game forward in India.” Former India goalkeeper and captain Ganguly commended everyone on formulating the draft constitution on such short notice.

“The amount of labor that has gone into the draft constitution is indeed commendable and that i sincerely thank everyone involved on it’s completion. We hope that with these new changes, football in our country will continue to grow further than ever before.” the ultimate draft constitution was also handed to the state associations which were represented within the discussions by a seven-member committee.

On June 23, the visiting FIFA-AFC team had set deadlines to wash up the Indian football mess, asking the stakeholders to induce the constitution of the national federation approved by July 31 and conduct elections by September 15, failing which the country may well be banned by the planet body.

A FIFA ban would mean the Women’s U-17 World Cup, to be held in three venues from October 11 to 30, could potentially be quarantined from the country.

The next date of the Supreme Court hearing on the matter is July 21. Once the Supreme Court gives the green signal, a Special General Body Meeting of the AIFF is anticipated to be called with seven days to approve the new constitution.

The elections will then be held within 30 days of the approval of the new constitution by the final Body of the AIFF.