The Sri Lanka Football fiasco only gets worse, day by day!

Sri Lanka football appears to be a sport that is eternally caught on the wrong foot. If one were to give a careful hear to football followers around the country, a severe state of disillusionment exists, like a haze that never seems to go away. The football community believes that the reason for this disabled state, is that a wrong set of people seem to be in control of its destinies.

They say, that this bunch of opportunists maneuver to stay in the saddle and give the impression that without them, football cannot function. The FIFA suspension has forcefully brought to the surface, the decadent nature of the sport and exposed also the ineffective interference of the state, vis-a-vis, the Ministry of Sports (MoS).

Much has been written in recent days, particularly in the vernacular media, representing divergent views, some of it paid for handsomely by vested interests. Social media too has gone to town and a sporting blog from as far back as Qatar has joined the bandwagon to help dissect what ails our football. The MoS has appointed what it declares is an expert commission under a retired judge to examine the fundamental causes for this debacle. But those who have appeared before this august body, feel that the verdict is already given and the proceedings will merely attempt to justify the exercise. It is indeed apparent that the commission will not dwell on the shortcomings of the MoS itself. Thus, it is reported that one exalted football administrator simply refused to appear before the panel.

Meanwhile, the Sports Minister it is reported has stated that the people who have ruined football are the very people who have misled FIFA and brought about the drastic action of a suspension. What he has probably failed to realize is that successive Ministers have shifted the blame and failed to deal with FIFA concerns. Many representations made to the MoS for a long time as only been shelved and no firm action taken to remedy the pervasive ills that adorn this sport. FIFA reached out several times to introduce the critical reforms necessary to re-ignite Sri Lanka Football, but for a variety of reasons from as far back as 2014, the powers that be, merely sidelined this important structural change, probably fearing the loss of their coveted positions of power. The MoS having agreed to a Road Map with FIFA, simply cast it aside, to extend its arbitrary mandate made infinite, by the redundant Sports Law. That this legislation has affected many primary sports such as athletics, cricket and rugby is plain to see and talks of fresh laws and constitutions are bandied each day without a sensible series of commitments, to align with international world trends in sports.

Print and social media has over the last week highlighted a festive gathering where a FFSL stalwart hosted football leagues from all over, but the North and East. This confluence carried the grand theme of unity and why not, even at this late hour.

But what staggered most football observers was the subtle idea of a coalition that is planned to bring together all factions, including the disposed President that FIFA still recognizes. Shockingly, many buried their heads when it is learnt that a man who is accused of wanton embezzlement, is invited to sit with the sages who call the shots; people who brought the sport to its knees over the last decade.

One bold official it is learnt, broke ranks to expose the fact that the people who had failed over the last ten years, are now seeking to resurrect the very sport they destroyed. The incumbent President for all his shenanigans, bluntly spoke of the primary motive of eliminating corruption caused by what he called, a football mafia. Regrettably and coincidentally, he is now languishing in remand for all his trouble.

Fortuitously, a drive round city suburbs and outstation centers, amply showcase that football is widely followed by many youth, backed by local support groups; that augers well for Sri Lanka. The premier clubs are also claiming an equal representation in the main body, the FFSL, something FIFA encourages. It is therefore very clear that a regime change is on the cards. The MoS must recognize that need and quickly align with FIFA to implement the model statues that the world body upholds. It is important to reiterate the widespread call for a ‘Normalization Committee’ that FIFA and MoS could collaborate on, somewhat like the IMF sanctions that Sri Lanka is following now. All is not lost. A blueprint is ready and available. It therefore makes good sense not to avoid the inevitable. An off-side trap is not necessary. It is goals that we need, and long term ones at that.