'Officials need to answer for what they have done': Advocate Rahul Mehra lashes out at AIFF

What’s the story?

Advocate Rahul Mehra, who has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case against the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has lashed out against the Indian football federation, saying that the apex football governing body needs to answer for what it has done for Indian football since independence.

In case you didn’t know…

Rahul Mehra is an advocate, who had filed a PIL against the way AIFF holds its elections, which he believes is not transparent enough. More recently, the Delhi High Court passed an order that rendered the election of former AIFF president Praful Patel as null and void. The HC also appointed former Chief Election Commissioner YS Quraishi as the administrator of the AIFF.

However, the AIFF, not ready to back down, went on to take the matter to the Supreme Court, where a rather comical incident took place, when Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra asked Mehra a rather curious question during the court proceedings.

Rahul Mehra's claim that he has done seven years research on fate of football in India was deflated by CJI Dipak Misra who asked him to explain what is a 'Right Back".

— Dhananjay Mahapatra (@toi_dhanajayM) November 10, 2017

Heart of the matter

However, unfazed by the question, Mehra took to Twitter to slam the AIFF for its alleged apathy towards Indian football. The Advocate even asked the AIFF to account for what good it has done for the sport in the country, since the Independence of the country. Mehra, in his question, put even more emphasis on the last 25 years, questioning the AIFF on what positive effect it has brought about, during that course of time.

AIFF officials need to answer what they hv done for promotion &development of Indian football &its players since Independence and more importantly in the last 25yrs before I am asked to establish my credentials as a watch dog in Indian sports? #PlSeeMyBodyOfWorkBeforeCommenting? https://t.co/4GO4S2txab

— Rahul Mehra (@TheRahulMehra) November 11, 2017

He also went on to state that it would be a sad state of affair, should “AIFF officials”, namely Praful Patel, who was sacked from his post as the president of the federation, are reinstated to the AIFF.

Instead of speculating, I would rather wait for the SC order which should be out soon. All I can say is that it would be a sad day for Indian Sports lovers who believe in integrity, fairness, transparency & accountability in sports administration,if AIFF executives are reinstated https://t.co/4GO4S2txab

— Rahul Mehra (@TheRahulMehra) November 11, 2017

What’s next?

While the court proceedings are still ongoing, it remains to be seen which way the SC gives its verdict. The future of Indian football hands in the balance, as having a court-appointed administrator at the helm of affairs for too long could result in FIFA banning the AIFF from its list of member nations.

Author’s take

Indian football seems to be balanced finely on a knife-edge at the moment. While we have seen significant improvement in the national team’s fortunes over the last couple of years, it remains to be seen whether there was any foul play in the AIFF elections.