MARGAO
The Goa Football Association (GFA) elections, which are tentatively set to be held on October 30, could be a no-show after Youth Club of Manora addressed a petition to the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) about the election process being illegal.
Addressing a press conference in a city hotel, Shrikant Sawant, the president of the club, said they sent a letter to the AIFF last week about the election having a faulty procedure and being not in the line of the National Sports Code. Following the judgement of the High Court on September 8, 2022, former GFA president Churchill Alemao had to vacate the post after attaining 70 years of age. The GFA amended the statues in an EGM held in July, 2018 and relying the tenure of past president Churchill Alemao, Sawant said.
Based on the court judgement, Youth Club of Manora stressed that members who had completed two consecutive terms in the GFA Executive Committee are ineligible to contest the GFA election. The club, to make their case impregnable had cited the Supreme Court ruling on September 14, 2022 involving BCCI and Bihar Cricket Association in which it was ruled that if a person has served two consecutive terms each, in the State association and in the BCCI continuously without any break, such person shall not be eligible to contest any further election in the State association or in the BCCI without a cooling off period, Sawant pointed out. Sawant stated that the amendment of the statues means that a couple of members cannot contest the GFA election.
Meanwhile, Anthony Barbosa, vice-president of Youth Club of Manora, said the club has cautioned the AIFF of approaching the Supreme Court if the permission is granted for GFA to conduct the elections. The club has requested the the AIFF to postpone the election and amend the statues to align with proposed amendment to the statues of AIFF, said Barbosa.
Barbosa further said that they moved to the arbitration after GFA relegated their team to the First Division League. He alleged that Sesa Football Academy, who finished last in the league table, were not relegated. He said that the GFA is increasing the teams in the Pro League but demoted their club and questioned the logic behind such treatment given to the team.
