AIFF General Body approves committees to fast-track ISL & IL within Constitutional framework

The All India Football Federation held its Executive Committee
(ExCo) and Annual General Body (AGM) meetings on Saturday, both of which were chaired
by Federation President Kalyan Chaubey at Football House in New Delhi.
A proposal regarding the future of the ISL was submitted by 10 clubs and presented at the AGM by Vinay Chopra, CEO of Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Due to mixed reactions from the assembly regarding the clubs’ request to manage the league in perpetuity, the Federation appointed a three-member committee to seek a resolution.

This committee, consisting of Kerala Football Association President Navas Meeran, Goa Football Association President Caitano Fernandes, and Indian Football Association (West Bengal) Secretary Anirban Datta, along with AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan as the ex-officio member, will hold discussions with representatives from five clubs, Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City FC, Delhi SC, NorthEast United FC, and Mohun Bagan SG from December 22 to 29.

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Their objective is to reach an agreement that adheres to the AIFF Constitution laid out by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
The House also addressed a proposal from I-League clubs by forming a three-member committee. This committee includes Andhra Pradesh Football Association President Kotagiri Sridhar, Mizoram Football Association Honourary Secretary Lalrengpuia, and Punjab Football Association Honourary Secretary Harjinder Singh, who will work with the AIFF Deputy Secretary General to find a solution.

If necessary, the AIFF will consult with FIFA and the AFC to review how similar situations in other nations were handled as precedents.
During these proceedings, the respective observers from FIFA and the AFC, Prince Rufus and Niren Mukherjee, advised that the AIFF Constitution remains the governing authority for these decisions.

Official objection letters from Executive Committee Members Avijit Paul and Valanka Alemao, along with East Bengal FC Director Debabrata Sarkar, who wrote on behalf of Emami East Bengal FC, were formally placed on record during the meeting.
Additionally, as required by the Federation’s Constitution, the General Body approved the appointment of several retired Supreme Court and High Court judges, a former Chief Election Commissioner, and various high-ranking IPS and DGP officials as the Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the Independent Judiciary Committees.