Delhi High Court Hands Out Derecognition Threat To All India Football Federation

The Delhi High Court asked the All India Football Federation to "follow National Sports Development Code in its Thursday polls, and asked the Centre to act in case of violation," according to the PTI. A bench of Chief Justice D. Murugesan and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said, "The sports federation is required to follow the National Sports Development Code, 2011."  The court also said that the irregularities, if any, in the election processes "be brought to the notice of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which, in turn, may take the requisite steps" (PTI, 12/18). The PTI also reported the AIFF will be "effecting a major reshuffle," which will see induction of three new VPs as well as members from the five zones. However, the top two posts -- president and VP -- will remain unchanged (PTI, 12/19). The TIMES OF INDIA reported an application filed by lawyer-activist Rahul Mehra "alleged that AIFF's electoral process was flawed" for several reasons. AIFF's constitution has "undemocratic restrictive clause which ought to be deleted." Electoral college has neither been formed nor declared "contrary to the mandate of the Sports Code." Nomination and withdrawal forms "do not conform to the model forms provided in the Code" (TIMES OF INDIA, 12/19).

A WELCOMED DECISION: The PTI reported the movement for corruption-free sports in the country, Clean Sports India, "welcomed the Delhi High Court's order." CSI national convenor BPV Rao alleged that incumbent President Praful Patel was "employing unfair means in order to get elected unopposed." Rao: "According to my personal information, Praful Patel collected blank nomination papers signed by probable office-bearers from the state federations. He will now decide who will get elected in which post and most probably all will [be] elected unopposed" (PTI, 12/19).