Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has strongly criticized All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey, accusing him involvement in corruption, and lambasting the BJP politician’s attempts to stage a “palace coup” against sitting Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha.
“He has really damaged the reputation of Indian football, and now he’s doing the same with the IOA, which is very unfortunate,” Bhutia told ANI.
“I think the IOA should not entertain him and should remove him. He is only interested in gaining power and positions, not in advancing the sport. We’ve seen the damage he’s done to the football federation, and now he’s harming the IOA as well,” he added.
“Kalyan Chaubey has no respect for legends like PT Usha and IM Vijayan, the technical committee chairman,” Bhutia continued.
“Chaubey has done nothing for the national team. He has significantly damaged Indian football’s credibility. People like me, who are sportspersons trying to help the federation and improve the game, feel let down by Kalyan Chaubey. People believed a sportsperson should run the federation, but Chaubey, given the opportunity, has created a mess with allegations of corruption,” he remarked.
Bhutia further emphasized the negative impact of Chaubey’s actions on the credibility of sports federations.
“The credibility of running a sports federation is now damaged. Genuine sportspeople who want to help may be deterred,” he said.
“We are all worried about the federation’s credibility, which is a major concern. It is the first time we are seeing so many allegations against the federation president, including serious corruption charges by office bearers. This is very bad publicity for the federation and the sport itself,” Bhutia noted.
He also highlighted the broader issues within the AIFF under Chaubey’s leadership.
“I think the federation’s credibility will be damaged further. There is a lot of mismanagement at the top, including financial mismanagement and improper handling of positions, such as appointing the national team coach without following the proper process. The reputation of Indian football is declining. We need to establish a proper constitution, have a Supreme Court judgment, conduct new elections, and bring in a new body to completely revive and revamp Indian football. This is the most important thing at the moment,” the former Indian captain concluded.
Bhutia’s charge against Chaubey have added weight, coming as they do close on the heels of the self-appointed IOA “acting” chief executive’s moves last week to call an “illegal and unauthorised” special general body meeting for October 25, the principal aim of which is to remove Usha from the position of IOA president.
Chaubey issued a circular last Wednesday on IOA’s official letterhead listing 26 agenda items for the SGM on October 25, the main item being a motion of no confidence against Usha “in light of alleged constitutional violations and actions potentially detrimental to Indian sports”.
Chaubey had signed the circular as IOA’s joint secretary and acting CEO.
It bears noting that Chaubey had served as IOA’s acting CEO before Raghuram Iyer was appointed to the post in January. It is also important to note that whatever may be the assertions of Chaubey and the cabal supporting him, Iyer has been recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the CEO (not acting) of the IOA. It is also worth pointing out that one of the conditions that the IOC had laid down for lifting its suspension of the mismanaged IOA was that a professional CEO would be appointed.
The fact that Chaubey and the EC members supporting him are in direct contravention of the IOC’s diktats is but par for the course for many national sports bodies in India, a good example being the Wrestling Federation of India, which remains under the firm control of its “former” president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of multiple counts of sexual harassment.
Meanwhile, a direct fallout of Chaubey’s manoeuvring within the IOA is a statement issued by the executive board of the International Olympic Committee, during its meeting on October 8, expressed grave concerns over “the ongoing internal governance issues within the Indian Olympic Association”. That is not all though. The IOC has hit the IOA where it will hurt most – funding (bold). at the IOC’s October 8 meeting it was also decided that, until further review, the Olympic Solidarity grants to the IOA will be withheld from disbursement.
Specifically, the IOC EB noted the persistent obstruction to the ratification of the appointment of lyer in January, an action that has hindered the IOA’s ability to function effectively.
“In view of these developments, the IOC executive board has decided that, until further review, the Olympic Solidarity grants to the IOA will be withheld from disbursement. The IOC has also taken steps to ensure that the athletes selected for Olympic Solidarity scholarships will be paid directly, ensuring that their preparations for the future International Events are not disrupted by the internal failings of the IOA,” the IOC declared.
In the wake of the development, the IOA expressed its “deep concern” over the “severe financial repercussions” caused by the suspension of the grants.
The IOA stated that its president PT Usha has been persistently seeking the executive committee (EC) ratification of the appointment of lyer since January and an expansion of the administrative staff to enhance the organization’s accountability, transparency, and operational efficiency.
“The recent failures in financial management further highlight the need for these critical reforms. Dr. Usha has reiterated that a robust administrative framework is essential to ensure that the IOA fulfils its duties to the athletes, stakeholders, and the wider sporting community,” the IOA statement added.
The IOA asserted further that the failure of the IOA treasurer, Sahdev Yadav (a member of the Chaubey cabal), to file the necessary annual financial reports, despite repeated reminders from the IOC, was another reason the grants have been suspended.
The Olympic Solidarity grants, a vital source of funding for athlete development programs and sports initiatives, have been withheld due to non-compliance in submitting the financial reports, a responsibility solely within the purview of the treasurer.
“This lapse (by Yadav) shall significantly impact the IOA’s ability to provide the necessary financial support to Indian athletes, threatening their preparation and performance for upcoming international competitions,” the IOA stated on Friday.
“The IOA is committed to taking immediate corrective actions to regain the trust of the EOR and restore its financial stability. The President of the IOA calls upon all members of the General Assembly to prioritize the interests of Indian athletes and support the urgent reforms needed to ensure that such lapses do not occur in the future,” the statement further noted.
“This negligence will result in the IOA losing out on critical Olympic Solidarity grants for the past few years, dealing a major blow to the IOA’s efforts to support Indian athletes,” the IOA statement concludes.
Usha, meanwhile, has urged all stakeholders to recognize the legality of the SGM notice issued by her office on October 3, and to “disregard any illegal actions that are in direct contravention of the IOA Constitution”.
