Minister to checkmate football officials after AFC vote
The newly elected AFC officials after the AFC Annual Congress held on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Following the decision of Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) to vote in favour of the constitutional amendments tabled at the Annual Congress of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Wednesday, the Ministry of Sports has warned the local football administration that it could face ‘repercussions’ for its decision.
The Ministry of Sports had made this serious statement based on the ‘foreign policy’ of Sri Lanka but not with regard to any move that could harm sport administration, according to sources. The Minister of Sports, Faiszer Musthapha had earlier advised the FFSL officials to make the most suitable decision in accordance, according to an FFSL statement, but also had stated that the AFC move to amend its constitution was against the ‘foreign policy’ of Sri Lanka.
According to the now passed amendments of the AFC, it would open the opportunity for non-members or outsiders to become members of its Executive Committee in place of elected members from member countries. Local football experts call the intended constitutional amendment as a ‘breach of Foreign Policy adopted by Sri Lanka’ as well as a obstruction of rights earned by the FFSL representatives of the AFC.
The former constitution of AFC states that member countries, who are part of its Executive Committee, could nominate two members at special sittings or Annual General Meetings, but the newly adopted change would see representatives from non-member countries of AFC playing vital roles in voting as well as decision making.
“The main element of the statutes amendments were to provide a provision for any candidate who would contest for the position of AFC President with nomination received from three Member Associations of AFC other than the country he represents. This amendment was initially proposed by the Legal Committee of AFC to be in line with the FIFA and the other leading Confederation UFFA, and was then duly approved by the Executive Committee of AFC. FIFA has confirmed that the amendments were in line with its principles of broad based representation and better governance. Minister of Sports, Mr. Faizser Musthapha wrote to FFSL President by his letter dated 26 October 2108 with regard to media publications on this matter and confirmed that “there would not be any interference from him, but to take the best decision in the best interest for football and Sri Lanka,” the FFSL, issuing a statement on Friday evening, said.
The Minister of Sports in contradiction, after FFSL officials voted in favour of the decision, has said that he had verified matters with the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and their reply was that the amended constitutional change would allow “an individual (Sri Lankan) not accepted by Sri Lanka easily make the way into the AFC Executive Committee” and ‘it could open doors to serious repercussions if the appointed (Sri Lankan) goes against his own country’.
“I do not intend to interfere in any way, but as a country we should adhere to our Foreign Policies. If the FFSL intends to vote in favour of this change, it will be a direct breach of what we follow, but we cannot force them what to do or not to do. They (AFC) might force Sri Lanka to vote in favour threatening to cut down or abort the grants given to FFSL. Yet, I advised the FFSL President to make the correct and viable decision,” the Minister said.
“The FFSL also called for an emergency Executive Committee meeting the same day when the Minister’s letter was received, to brief them of the situation and it was unanimously consented to take the correct decision for Sri Lanka football in consultation with other Member Associations of AFC prior to the congress,” the FFSL in its statement goes on to say.
Sri Lanka was represented by FFSL officials, President Anura de Silva, the Voting Delegate, General Secretary Jaswar Umar and Jagath Kumara de Silva, the Deputy Secretary at the AFC Annual Congress held on October 31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The constitutional amendment was passed with an overwhelming support of 42 votes against 4 votes against namely Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Korea and Uzbekistan.
Further according to reliable sources, the Minsiter of Sports is said to contemplating on taking the matter up to the higher echolens of the country’s administration. It is also learnt that FFSL is most likely to be appointed by an interim committee, after being labeled as one of the ‘most corrupted sports entities’ of the country.