AIFF’s Executive Committee Meeting and the Dismissal of Shaji Prabhakaran

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has called an executive committee meeting on Wednesday listing Shaji Prabhakaran’s dismissal as secretary-general on the agenda but is unlikely to call him. That Prabhakaran should have been given a chance to do that was mentioned at the executive committee meeting following his dismissal.

AIFF removed Shaji Prabhakaran, a former FIFA official, from his post last November.(Twitter) {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}}

“I have not been invited to Wednesday’s meeting,” said Prabhakaran on Sunday.

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AIFF removed Prabhakaran, a former FIFA official, from his post last November for breach of trust. In December, Prabhakaran obtained a stay on the dismissal from Delhi High Court.

In its ruling on January 19, the high court has pointed out that Prabhakaran was dismissed by an AIFF emergency committee but as per the federation’s constitution, only the executive committee has the power to do that. The order also said that there is no bar on AIFF holding an executive committee meeting “for the purpose of terminating the tenure of the petitioner.” HT has seen the court order.

On the agenda, sent by AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, for Wednesday’s meeting is an item that says dismissal and termination of service of Dr Shaji Prabhakaran from the post of secretary-general.

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There is no rule as to when an invitation should be sent for executive committee meetings but AIFF officials said it is usually done when the agenda is released.

Referring to the agenda, an executive committee member asked whether the agenda should have been sent by Prabhakaran since AIFF accepts that he is still in office. The member did not want to named given the sensitive nature of the issue but said Prabhakaran should be invited to the meeting so that the executive committee could question him.

Exactly what Prabhakaran wants as well. Following the court order, he has written to AIFF president, vice-president and executive committee asking for an opportunity to be questioned by the federation’s members.

“At the moment, my sincere request to each of you is that I be invited to the next gathering of the AIFF members, whether it is an Executive Committee meeting or an Annual General Meeting (or, for that matter, any other formal or informal meetings) whenever it is being planned as I would like to answer sincerely every question that our hon’ble members might have on their minds or on things where they have been told that I committed something wrong,” Prabhakaran has written. A copy of his e-mail is with HT.

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“I consider my presence…urgent and outright necessary because I feel responsible and accountable for my work,” he has written.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dhiman Sarkar is based in Kolkata with over two decades as a sports journalist. He writes mainly on football.

2024-01-29 07:47:00
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