The All India Football Federation executive committee has ratified (read rubber-stamped) the decision of its ’emergency committee’ in November to dismiss then AIFF secretary-general Shaji Prabhakaran.
Some “media worthy noise” (read it will make not a jot of difference to the powers that be in the AIFF) was provided by former India captain and AIFF executive committee member Bhaichung Bhutia who called for the removal of federation president and ruling BJP party member Kalyan Chaubey, as well as treasurer Ajay Kipa, who vociferously made the point that since all three (including Prabhakaran) were “hand in glove” as far as misgovernance in the national body was concerned.
Bhutia demanded the resignation of Chaubey, holding him primarily responsible for the “current mess” in the administrative side of the game in the country.
Bhutia attended Tuesday’s executive committee meeting of the AIFF called here to discuss the dismissal of Prabhakaran on November 7. Prabhakaran was not initially invited for the meeting but joined it virtually.
Bhutia told the media: “I told the executive committee members that Kalyan Chaubey and treasurer Kipa Ajay should also resign.
“Shaji Prabhakaran should not be made the only scapegoat.
“All three of them are equally responsible for taking decisions without the approval of executive committee.
“Indian football is in mess, there is politics in the sport, cutting out each other after little over one year of taking charge, it is not good.
“The national team was left in the lurch during the Hangzhou Asian Games as well as in the Asian Cup where there was inadequate training time for the team.”
Prabhakaran was removed on November 7 for alleged “breach of trust” but a Single Judge Bench of the Delhi High Court had on December 8 ordered an interim stay on his sacking.
In its latest revised order of January 19, the High Court pointed out that Prabhakaran was dismissed by the emergency committee of the AIFF whereas the federation’s constitution provides that only the executive committee has the power to do that.
Prabhakaran, the former Delhi Football chief, was appointed AIFF secretary-general in September 2022 and served in the high-profile role for 13 months before his summary sacking.
