NEW DELHI: Were the eminent Indian footballers on the All India Football Federation's electoral college more clued in with FIFA regulations and statutes than the Committee of Administrators (CoA) gave them credit for?
As it eventually transpired, the 36 players' list was repealed by the top court as it sought to end the impasse between the AIFF and the ban by the world body. While that was on expected lines, none of the players themselves seemed too shattered at finding themselves dispensable yet again, with the possible exception of Bhaichung Bhutia, who had filed an application for intervention forehand in support of the players despite it not sitting in agreement with FIFA guidelines.
On Monday, even he found himself stranded.
Former India captain Shabbir Ali, third on the 'Eminent Players' list after Bhutia and IM Vijayan, was not surprised and was said he was expecting the idea to be jettisoned. "It is crucial for the game that former players are included in administration, even FIFA needs to understand this and that needs to change. They invite the big star for their World Cup draw ceremony but will not include him in their elected panels," Shabbir told TOI.
"In the current case, there were so many ins and outs we were not really sure how it would all pan out. Even now, it is not clearly spelt out how the six players in the new executive committee plan will be picked. Will it be a nomination, who will nominate, what will the criteria be? Clarity is often absent," he pointed out.
Asked why none of the players came forward to file nominations to serve football when the opportunity presented itself, the former India captain said, "Having played for India for so long, we are fully aware of FIFA's guidelines and statutes. They do not allow individual members to vote, I'm sure the players would have this knowledge as well."
Renedy Singh was more forthright. "As players we will always support another player should he decide to stand, whoever he is. That is simple and implicit. Each one of us knows that, but there are former players who are coaches, and then some are administrators. I think, most of us today still fall in the former category."
Bhutia cut an increasingly lonely figure as none of his teammates rallied around him. One official in the know of things even alluded to Kalyan Choubey's last-minute entry from Gujarat forcing his hand. "With Kalyan Chaubey in the fray, Bhutia just could not back out. It would have been a huge loss of face, he was left with no choice."
Yet, Bhutia is standing his ground. "They nominated Kalyan from Gujarat where he has no connection with the state's football, but it's the individual members that they are ruling out," he told TOI from Kolkata.
"Today's decision was in the interest of Indian football. The current priority is to have the ban revoked and ensure the U-17 World Cup is held, but we need larger reforms. The players need to be included in decision-making. We will keep fighting for that," he said. Did the CoA, in a grand idea to reform the sport, clearly overreach with an idea much before it's time?
It is possible that a unique ruling can be made more exemplary by mandating the states to include a percentage of players within their respective structures, than to clumsily thrust it from the top.
