Will another war loom within FFSL?
View(s):Local football chief Jaswar Umar, known for his financial mismanagement, has received FIFA’s approval for a sum of USD330,000, approximately Rs.110mn to host an international tournament without first getting the approval of his own committee. Ranked 204 out of 210 teams, Sri Lanka football remain at the lowest ebb with elected officials doing little to help promote the sport while globe-trotting enjoying the FIFA’s and AFC’s hospitality.
The FIFA fund will enable Sri Lanka to host the FIFA Series 2024 that involves a four-nation competition including hosts Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Central African Republic and Papua New Guinea from March 22 to 25 in Colombo.
Umar is now accused by his fellow administrators for his ‘one man show’ conduct and breaching the very own constitution they should follow as FFSL office bearers.
Jaswar Umar (C) flanked by Ranjith Rodrigo (L) and Dr. Manil Fernando (top)
The Sunday Times learns that Umar had drafted the intended budget for hosting the FIFA Series 2024 without consulting the rest of the elected officials, including the Treasurer or the two Vice Presidents – Ranjith Rodrigo, a former FFSL President, and Dr. Manil Fernando. Almost every one of the FFSL have been unaware of the budget document, which has been signed by Umar, until it was shared to them upon receiving approval from FIFA.
Generally, such budget proposals are prepared collectively with the involvement of members of the Executive Committee, including the Treasurer and the Financial Committee, but it is said that Umar had bypassed the protocol, not adhering to their constitutional requirements.
In addition, despite being almost six months old since election, the FFSL Committees have not been appointed, where each should have a Chairman, a Deputy Chair and a number of members. The failure to appoint committees to oversee areas of Finance, Organising Committee for FFSL Competitions, Technical and Development, Referees, Women’s Football, Players’ Status and Members Service, in accordance to the FFSL Constitution, raises many questions, including the alleged move made by Umar, could be identified as legitimate.
So far, only the head to each committee has been appointed without a deputy or the required number of members to each of the seven committees. This, according to a football expert, could find FFSL in further disarray for breaching its own constitution if the regional or global bodies are made aware.
While the FFSL, headed by Umar, shows keener interest on the upcoming international event, which is a part of FIFA’s initiative under the FIFA World Series, very less commitment and focus have been driven into its very own domestic mechanism. These include the inactive domestic competitions such as the Inter-Club League and the FA Cup, and of the other segments such as Women’s and Junior, and the development projects for juniors, players, coaches, and officials, in addition to training programmes conducted both locally and internationally.
It also has come to light that FFSL has granted salary increments to its permanent employees, with a handful set to receive a thumping one-to-one raise to their present monthly incomes.
Two of the most vociferous officials, Ranjith Rodrigo and Dr. Manil Fernando, who have been critical on Umar’s lavish spending when he was in power few years ago, are also being kept in the dark. Their present silence, which has been a total contradict when they were in the opposing factions, has been interestingly vivid during the recent months, after being elected alongside Umar as the two Vice Presidents of the present hierarchy.