A former ministry official faults ministry for political interference
The double international ban imposed on Sri Lanka by FIFA, the world body of football, and World Rugby (WR), was observed as an issue of negligence and attitude of all parties concerned, according to a former top sports official of the country. FIFA handed an immediate ban on Sri Lanka on January 21, a week after the election of J. Sri Ranga as President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL). On May 17, WR slapped Sri Lanka with a global ban. As a result both football and rugby will have to forego international and regional competitions with their respective grants being frozen until matters are resolved.
Both FIFA and WR termed ‘political interference’ as the contributor to the global bans. It is termed as extensive and inappropriate interference into the sports bodies by the global bodies of football and rugby.
“I say all are equally responsible here in their own ways,” stated a former top sports official, who wished to remain anonymous.
FIFA has instructed FFSL to amend its constitution since 2017 and the elected officials, for the past six years failed to deliver the goods as required by their global body. In terms of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), its incumbent President Rizly Illyas was handed a suspension by the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) in addition to banning SLR regionally. However SLR were in the good books of WR during that period, and even fielded the national 7s teams for the final two legs of the Asian 7s Series under the National Olympic Committee (NOC) flag.
But the Sports Minister appointed a stabilisation committee after dissolving the duly elected Executive Committee headed by Illyas. No sooner ARFU lifted its ban, but few weeks later, on May 17, WR slapped SLR with a global ban.
“The two sports bodies of football and rugby, have failed to adhere to the requirements. FFSL was required to amend its constitution and even after warning from the sports ministry, they failed to complete the task. It was done in a rush, and by then the ministry had dissolved FFSL,” the official added.
“In terms of rugby, they entertained two banned provincial rugby unions. Sports ministry had clearly advised not to include them in their Annual General Meeting last time around. Yet, they have entertained the two provincial unions of Western and Uva with voting rights,” the official explained.
“I must agree that the claim of political interference is somewhat true. I suppose the minister has appointed the wrong people as advisors, and that’s evident with what has happened today.”
To make way out of the two bans, the former official suggested that the ministry should initiate dialogs with the two global bodies of football and rugby sooner than later, by naming a delegation. But as at now, the ministry has communicated with WR, only to explain why it banned SLR and provide the profile of the stabilization committee it appointed few weeks ago.
The ministry has sent a letter to WR on May 11 and sent second letter with 13 pages on May 15 explaining the wrongdoings of SLR administration under Illyas, when it already had the powers to seek explanation while in power.
So far nothing has been worked out on reinstating FFSL with FIFA, and a possible third ban awaits if the ministry continues to pinch into its third target – Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Last week Imran Khwaja, the Deputy Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC) visited Sri Lanka on a fact-finding mission after it received complaints from SLC officials of political interference. Khwaja met top officials of the ministry and the government and had explained the consequences if it surpasses limits.
But as the former sports official stated, the ministry has been focusing on the wrong ends, while it had better ways to get the tasks fulfilled.