Football blame game turns ugly

A greater section of the local football fraternity are pointing fingers to nowdefunct administration of Football Federation of Sri Lanka ( FFSL) headed by Jaswar Umar, for the present calamity of the sport in the country. This comes aftermath a series of exchange in opinions by two parties, one mainly by a collaborated faction of former presidents of FFSL, Anura de Silva and Ranjith Rodrigo, who was also the vice president under Umar’s administration.

After the latest development, legal battles have been brewing between the two factions, both alleging each other on corruption. Umar had summoned a media conference no sooner his powers were taken off by the Ministry of Sports, and alleged that former presidents de Silva and Rodrigo have been involved with corruption. He also stated that a ‘third party’ interference is spoiling the image of football in Sri Lanka, indirectly charging the Ministry of Sports.

Umar blamed the Minister of Sports for the current status of football in Sri Lanka, stating that “His motives by appointing an interim committee is totally against the norms of FFSL. FIFA does not endorse a third party interference to any of its member countries. By appointing an interim committee Sri Lanka is facing the risk of being banned by FIFA”.

However it was the Ministry of Sports that granted the FFSL under Umar extensions of stays after their official mandate came to an end on May 31 this year. The first extension was granted for a period of three months until August 31, and a further extension of 15 days until September 15.

The core purpose of the former administration when they were elected in May 2021 was to amend the constitution, create an electoral code and hold a fresh election within 12 months. These were the requirements of FIFA, the world governing body, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the country’s Ministry of Sports. FIFA and AFC issued a joint letter on April 11 earlier this year reminding FFSL that it’s reaching the deadline and to fulfill the requirements swiftly.

“First and foremost, we are of the view that the mandate of the current FFSL executive committee will come to an end by 30 June 2022 since the last elections took place on 30 June 2021 for a one year tenure, as per the directive of the Minister of Sport at the time. This being said and as underlined in aforementioned past correspondence, we consider that FFSL must first of all finalise the statutory review process as soon as possible in order for its Congress to adopt the relevant new set of statutes and electoral code before the end of the mandate of the executive committee, i. e. before end of June 2022. This requirement is in line with the agreement reached last year with the FFSL and the Ministry of Sports,” the letter jointly signed by Kenny Jean- Marie, the Chief Membe Associations Officer of FIFA and Vahid Kardany, yhr Deputy General Secretary – Member Associations of AFC states clearly.

“Once the new set of statutes and electoral are adopted, the FFSL elections would then have to take place based on the relevant new regulatory framework as soon as possible and bearing in mind the evolution of the situation in the country, but by no later than 31 August 2022,” the letter added.

However acting totally contradictorily to the requirements of FIFA, AFC and the Ministry of Sports, Umar now has taken the task of seeking legal assistance to remain in power. He has also stated the desire to take legal action against the Ministry of Sports for cancelling a Special Gazette Notification issued on September 17 extending the tenures of sports governing bodies that could not complete their respective elections. It was later revealed that the said Gazette Notification has been issued without the knowledge, consent or the valid signature of the Minister of Sports. The Ministry of Sports is now investigating on how the document was drafted and who released it, after reverting the Gazette Notification, which technically ends the term of all sport governing bodies, inclusive that of FFSL by September 15.

Former FFSL president Rodrigo has sued Umar for defamatory, in a legal case demanding Rs. 500million. This was after Umar blamed former FFSL presidents Anura de Silva and Ranjith Rodrigo with corruption charges happened in the previous administration.

“He ( Umar) knows the entire episode of what took place during my tenure. In fact he was part of the executive committee and he accompanied me to lodge a complaint in the police against the then Finance Controller of FFSL who was charged and even remanded for nearly two months. Actually it was him (Umar) who had done all the corruption during the past 15 months. I have even presented a detailed report to the President of the country of his misconducts,” de Silva told the Sunday Times.

However FIFA identifies Umar as the legitimate representative of Sri Lanka football until a new executive committee is duly appointed. The matter has reached the higher echelons of football in the world and it is unclear of FFSL’s future as it currently runs without a valid custodian.