| FIFA President Gianni Infantino. |
So, someone who’s allegedly linked to a
‘cricket’ corruption can also pick a national ‘football’ coach?
‘cricket’ corruption can also pick a national ‘football’ coach?
The day I posted it on my FB timeline, there
were few likes from some journalists, ex-footballers and football lovers.
were few likes from some journalists, ex-footballers and football lovers.
The recent juggling of the various AIFF
committees and sub-committees may force us to rethink if PP and Co. are really
serious about the sport in India after they officially included its marketing
partners in important decision-making bodies.
committees and sub-committees may force us to rethink if PP and Co. are really
serious about the sport in India after they officially included its marketing
partners in important decision-making bodies.
It’s also rare for commercial partners or
sponsors to be given decision-making roles in national sports federations, but
why AIFF has allotted the spaces to some including one, who was
allegedly involved in cricket’s IPL corruption in 2013, is anybody’s guess.
sponsors to be given decision-making roles in national sports federations, but
why AIFF has allotted the spaces to some including one, who was
allegedly involved in cricket’s IPL corruption in 2013, is anybody’s guess.
I had an interesting chat on the topic with one
of the senior journalists, who had covered more cricket than football.
of the senior journalists, who had covered more cricket than football.
He defended AIFF and blasted the top Calcutta
clubs for having killed the game.
clubs for having killed the game.
“If R is pushing the cash in the game, won’t
they want their men to handle the show. Isn’t it obvious? It’s better than pozi
cash coming to the clubs in gunny sacks. If the Indian Super League is drawing
crowds and getting sponsors, why rant?” he asked.
they want their men to handle the show. Isn’t it obvious? It’s better than pozi
cash coming to the clubs in gunny sacks. If the Indian Super League is drawing
crowds and getting sponsors, why rant?” he asked.
I’ve no issues with money being pumped into the
sport, but interference from sponsors is unwarranted. We also can’t rule out
their demoniacal presence in the multiple committees.
sport, but interference from sponsors is unwarranted. We also can’t rule out
their demoniacal presence in the multiple committees.
Do we see Barclays’ people in the Premier
League management or FIFA being guided by their commercial partners? If a
franchisee sells chicken burgers to its clients, it doesn’t mean it has the
right to sell football too just because it’s sponsoring some events.
League management or FIFA being guided by their commercial partners? If a
franchisee sells chicken burgers to its clients, it doesn’t mean it has the
right to sell football too just because it’s sponsoring some events.
When I told my journalist friend that Shyam Thapa,
who will now head the new technical committee, have a better technical acumen
than someone from cricket, he chucked, “Thapa is a dead wood. He doesn’t even
follow modern football. I consider PP a double dead wood. So let’s flow with
the tide.”
My friend supported the idea of having people
from the commercial partners, but didn’t want Thapa. I really got confused with his unbalanced
opinions, but I can’t blame him because anyone will find it difficult to solve
this tricky AIFF theorem.
from the commercial partners, but didn’t want Thapa. I really got confused with his unbalanced
opinions, but I can’t blame him because anyone will find it difficult to solve
this tricky AIFF theorem.
Meanwhile, the two top Bengalis in the federation — one non-resident and the other original — batted in favour of SR. They’re Indian football’s ‘Johor-Bhanu’ — Bengali films all-time famous comedians.
It was also funny to read one of their comments, “Everything is related to commercial exploitation. We wanted an outsider to tell us, with his BCCI experience, how we can actually improve the technical committee’s decision making.”
