Intro
Fresh dispute erupts as officials, committee chief trade charges over conduct
Chennai
The All India Football Federation has once again been drawn into controversy after a war of words broke out between its top officials and women’s committee chairperson Valanka Alemao over alleged misconduct and governance issues.
In a letter addressed to the Executive Committee, Alemao accused AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, vice-president NA Haris and deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan of intimidation and making “disrespectful” remarks during a recent meeting in New Delhi. She alleged that her concerns regarding procedural irregularities were repeatedly dismissed and that attempts were made to suppress her voice.
“I felt deeply prejudiced,” Alemao stated, claiming she was targeted throughout the meeting and subjected to unacceptable conduct.
However, the AIFF strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as an “outburst of frustration.” In its response, the federation accused Alemao of exerting undue pressure to secure a place for Churchill Brothers in the Indian Super League through what it termed a “backdoor entry.”
According to the AIFF, Alemao pushed for multiple emergency Executive Committee meetings to reconsider the club’s inclusion. The federation said these attempts were unsuccessful due to lack of quorum or rejection by members, and added that even existing ISL clubs opposed the proposal on merit grounds.
The dispute is rooted in a larger controversy over league promotion. Churchill Brothers were initially declared winners of the I-League and set for promotion, but the decision was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport following an appeal by Inter Kashi, who were subsequently awarded the title and ISL berth.
Escalating the matter, Alemao has reportedly taken her complaint to the FIFA ethics and women’s football committees, seeking an independent review.
The latest episode adds to ongoing concerns about governance and transparency within Indian football, even as stakeholders attempt to stabilise the domestic calendar and ensure the smooth conduct of competitions.