Football finances – Going down the drain!
View(s):I was upset to read the ST KornerKick article of the 24 Sept which makes most of us wonder what is going on at the Football House. This is a very sad state of affairs and what is of great concern is that the authorities are unmindful or indifferent to the deliberate robbery that is taking place under their very noses.
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Newspaper reports that the FFSL President has instituted various actions to recover the gross sum of Rs.28 million are a big mockery since he attempts to pass on most of the responsibility to a Past President when he was throughout these regimes, in positions of absolute authority; first as the CEO and later as the FFSL President. The Secretary General (SG) too was a former CEO while the current Finance Committee Chairman was also a close confidant of the Past President. So all these key officials and the Ex Co are placing the blame on the strong man from Negombo.
This powerful individual was indeed in control of FFSL finances for quite a long time, first as Treasurer, Finance Committee Chairman on more than one occasion and then as the President. Everyone in Football knows that it was he who placed the current President and SG as well as the Finance Committee Chairman in these positions. It was also he who planted the seeds of the rogue Finance Manager and dealt with him very closely throughout the last few years. So claims of an affidavit attempts to place the responsibility on a single individual which is not enough. It will only delay judgment as these officials are also no doubt directly responsible for the incompetent administration of the FFSL. So how can they alone conduct an enquiry into this very serious matter; what is needed is an independent body! That mandate must rest with the Ministry of Sport, who so far for some reason ignores this matter as if nothing has happened.
More worrying is the attitude of AFC who the FFSL President claims has had a change of heart and promised to release funds to the FFSL, even while this foul situation continues. It is like giving thieves more loot to take home! It is also exciting that the Past President from Negombo, the noisy grandmaster that he is, has gone quiet not challenging any claims against his administration. So all the powerbrokers are quiet! Life goes on for Football in this country. As the ST article stated quite rightly, this was not the first time that the FFSL has been taken to the cleaners and it will not be the last time, if the MOS and FIFA/AFC continue to hide a corrupt administration that is taking this sport down the drain. Who cares and who loses but poor footballers. It is these young players who have been deprived of badly needed funds that would give them some hope in the glittering World of Football.
Tilak Peiris President
Sri Lanka Soccer Masters Association