By Samindra Kunti
November 13 – The Indian Supreme Court has stayed the Delhi High Court order on Praful Patel’s election, offering the AIFF president relief and bestowing commissioner SY Quraishi with a new mandate. The Supreme Court appointed Quraishi, and former India football captain Bhaskar Ganguly, as ombudsmen to formulate the AIFF constitution within eight weeks.
Last Friday India’s highest court heard the case, but the court’s order became public only on Saturday. The order is a big boost for Patel, who had appealed to the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court deemed Patel’s presidential election in breach with India’s National Sport Code.
The Delhi High Court had ordered fresh elections within five months, but the Supreme Court stayed that order. In a statement after the Delhi High Court order the AIFF refuted the idea that it hadn’t played by the book. “AIFF is not aware of the reasons of the Delhi High Court to pass this order,” read the Federation’s declaration. “Once AIFF receives the copy of the Order from the High Court, AIFF will decide the course of action in accordance with the law.”
The statement also disclosed that the AIFF had approached the court and submitted a detailed affidavit to bring defend its position of having a clean electoral process in accordance with the National Sports Code.
The Supreme Court appointed Quraishi and former India captain Ganguly to formulate an amended AIFF constitution with eight weeks. The new order will allow Patel to maintain his role at the AIFF for now. Quraishi won’t be the AIFF administrator and he won’t organise fresh elections. Together with Ganguly, he will hand over the revised constitution to the Supreme Court in two months time. The case still needs to be heard on merit.
Patel was re-elected for a third term last December and has been the AIFF president since 2012. Last month India hosted the U-17 World Cup and, with the tournament a relative success, it was to be a stepping stone to future FIFA tournaments on Indian soil. The AIFF bid for the 2019 U-20 World Cup, but Patel’s struggles have been a setback for the Indian bid.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714383655labto1714383655ofdlr1714383655owedi1714383655sni@i1714383655tnuk.1714383655ardni1714383655mas1714383655
