Football Sri Lanka – even VAR may not resolve the many factional differences
View(s):
'The Unholy Trinity' of local football as some parts of the fraternity claim
On Monday, August 28, 2023, the FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura informed the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) that the suspension had been lifted on condition that the elections are held on September 29, 2023, as per the newly adopted statutes of September 22, 2022 and the gazette notification of July 24, 2023, issued by the Ministry of Sports (MoS).
Adhering to the strict conditions issued by FIFA was paramount. With that unequivocal declaration, FIFA rapped the local football administration including the ministry on the knuckles. In simple parlance, it asked them to behave, if they wished to join the affiliated nations of world football.
However, from that fateful day onwards, what we have witnessed is a mass hysteria emanating from two camps that have now graduated into two internecine factions that have been going at each other until this sports edition went to press. These two factions have the titles, ‘Winning Team’ and ‘Time to Change’.
The Winning Team is led by what the opposition terms, an ‘unholy trinity’, led by Jaswar Umar, a former FFSL President, who was disposed following an investigation and directive made by the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) of the Ministry of Sports, something FIFA did not take kindly to, accusing the MoS of interference in the sport that is overseen by FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) internationally.
The subsequent election conducted by the MoS was not recognised by FIFA and AFC which led to the suspension. In effect, Umar continued to be identified as the de-facto President of FFSL and was entertained by FIFA and AFC at international events, something that the smart operator he is, exploited to the fullest, giving the impression that he was FIFA President Infantino’s bosom buddy.
Flanking Umar in the ‘trinity’, are two prominent football administrators — one is Ranjith Rodrigo, a former President who upstaged the long reign of FFSL’s long time supremo Manilal Fernando that led to his lifetime suspension by FIFA. The other, hold your breath, is Dr. Manil Fernando, the son of Manilal Fernando, also a long time administrator of league and national football and an orthopedic surgeon to boot. These two gentleman along with Anura de Silva, another former FFSL President, are on record of publicly accusing Jaswar Umar of misdeeds and corruption.
The ‘trinity’ as we want to acknowledge, are making an appeal to the establishment, that it is a ‘unity’ ticket that they are carrying in this campaign. They believe that this element is a strong catalyst for a future football administration. The opposition, understandably, claims that this is a load of ballyhoo, and it is a manipulation by Umar who controls a greater vote bank, that gives the ‘trinity’ a dash of credibility.
The Time to Change faction is led by a virtual newcomer to football administration, Dacshitha Sumathipala. He appears to offer strong credentials to the office having secured that role in the Anuradhapura League, apart from his prowess as a national youth footballer and an accomplished businessman. He seems to have built a strong following among a cross section of the football community, with former President Anura de Silva lending his well principled support for the battle.
Jumping on the bandwagon is the Soccer Masters Association, who are an ambitious bunch of yesteryear’s football evergreens that seek to carve a niche in the firmament, having been disregarded for a long time by the federation. The rational Time to Change campaign platform claims to see an end to corruption and the need for a change from the recent insidious past.
The latest scenarios being played out in the glare of media attention, are the rulings made by the Elections Commission and the Appeals Board, who have debarred most of the members of the Time to Change group, including its Presidential nominee.
The latter group is now contemplating legal action and have initially written to the MoS and FIFA seeking redress. Among claims, including eligibility, they allege that the Elections Committee is biased in accepting the nomination of Jaswar Umar, whom the same Elections Committee disqualified in a previous election, based on a SIU and MoS submission. The Minister of Sports appears to be caught flatfooted in this goal mouth melee.
While continuing to make an admirable stand against corruption in sports at large, the Sports Minister is like a rabbit in the spotlight. If he dares take a stand in the latest fiasco involving these factions, he faces the wrath of FIFA for using the sword of ‘justifiable’ interference. To hell with the Sports Law will be the FIFA and AFC stand, having already twisted the arm of the Sports Minister and having obtained gazette notifications permitting the conditions imposed by FIFA.
This is indeed a sad travesty of justice and these columns consistently implored FIFA to consider an interim ‘Normalisation Committee’, foreseeing very well the free-for-all that will take place in an election minefield. Arguably, this is not a FIFA problem, but it is precisely where FIFA falls short with member nations and presents a cold shoulder to realities that require robust long term resolutions on the ground here. A die-hard playground fan succinctly muses, ‘why would they care, when we are at the bottom of the FIFA ranking, even if we have one coveted vote like other football nations?’.
So, will the referee in the middle refer to Video Assistant Referee (VAR) given the pathetic disharmony that confronts us? A vote for the Winning Team many feel will be a return to the corrupt regimes of the past. That does not auger well for football in Sri Lanka. The leagues assembled behind this faction may well be subjugated with the usual goodies. At a minimum, a Code of Conduct is suggested to reign in the sordid delinquencies we are privy to. In the local context, FFSL bigwigs love the lure of foreign travel which is the single most attraction of office. Could the MoS engage FIFA and suggest a moratorium on travel, along with a FIFA endorsement on the appointment of the CEO and Secretary General. Such regulatory conditions may make a VAR effective and cause a salutary effect on a somewhat suspect electoral process. The referee or referees surely have a tough job, if a football resurgence is desired.