Praful Patel says SC order has introduced finality to ‘long pending issue’

Thrown out of workplace by the Supreme Court after exceeding his tenure as All India Football Federation (AIFF) president, Praful Patel on Friday accepted the highest court docket’s order, saying it has introduced a “finality to a long pending issue”.

Patel’s reign on the helm of AIFF affairs got here to an unceremonious finish after the Supreme Court on Wednesday constituted a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to run the day-to-day affairs of the nationwide federation.

The SC named a panel headed by Justice (retd) AR Dave, with SY Qureshi, former Chief Election Commissioner, and Bhaskar Ganguly, former captain of the Indian soccer group, as members.

“I thank the Honourable Supreme Court for bringing finality to a long pending issue since 2017. I wish the CoA all the very best, and request them to fulfil their responsibilities of providing a new Constitution compliant with the National Sports Code,” Patel stated in a press release.

“A speedy resolution, and a newly elected body will serve in the best interest of Indian football.” He stated the AIFF structure was already broadly complying with the Sports Code, whereas preserving in thoughts AFC and FIFA statutes.

Patel additionally admitted that he was not eligible for re-election underneath the Sports Code.

“The time period of the elected committee expired in December 2020, and we had in November 2020 suo moto approached the Honourable Supreme Court for an early decision of the matter, and acceptable instructions.

“The AIFF constitution broadly follows the sports code 2011 for age and tenure limits, and therefore I was in any way going to step down from office, and neither was I eligible for re-election.” Patel’s third time period in workplace resulted in December 2020 however he clung to a SC case, which remained pending since 2017, to increase his govt committee’s time period whereas refusing to carry elections until the problem of a brand new structure was settled by the highest court docket.

This is the primary time a CoA will take cost of the AIFF, unprecedented in its 85-year-old historical past throughout which era it has by no means failed to carry its elections till the Patel-led dispensation bucked the pattern.

“The earlier executive committee of AIFF (headed by Patel) is no longer there after today’s SC order, it is gone. The SC asked us to take charge immediately, so as soon as we get the court order we will assume charge, speak to each other and chalk out our course of action,” Quraishi had advised PTI.

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He stated the brand new structure is anticipated to be accredited by the SC by July 30 and elections of the brand new workplace bearers of the AIFF might be held in September-October.

Patel, a former union minister, served as performing president for one 12 months after long-time head Dasmunshi turned unwell.

He took over as full-time president in October 2009 earlier than being re-elected to the highest put up in December 2012 and 2016. His three phrases and 12 years as AIFF president resulted in December 2020, the utmost permitted to a nationwide sports activities federation (NSF) chief underneath the Sports Code.

Before Patel, then Congress social gathering heavyweight Dasmunsi served as AIFF president from 1989 to 2008.

“I am always available for the service to take Indian Football forward together, and once again express my gratitude for having received the love and affection and honour to serve the sport,” Patel stated.