New Delhi: A section of Delhi Soccer Association’s council members have demanded the resignation of president Anuj Gupta for “misusing” his position and want urgent scheduling of an extraordinary general body meeting to pass a resolution and vote on a “no confidence motion” against him.
Officials of 30 clubs affiliated to the DSA have written a letter to the association’s executive committee on July 26 where they have demanded an extraordinary AGM to be called with the single point agenda of removal of Gupta and declare election for the president’s post.
They want the ouster of Gupta, who succeeded Shaji Prabhakaran in April 2023, “on the charges of violation of the constitution, violation of the code of ethics, violation of democracy, misuse of the post etc”.
As per the 20-point letter, Gupta is “misusing the position as President DSA for the growth of his personal club, i.e. Sudeva Delhi FC. There are many conflict of interest decisions for the benefit of his club, Sudeva Delhi FC and the residential academy Anuj Gupta operates”.
Gupta has also been accused of “interfering” in selection of various Delhi State teams and putting “pressure” on the selection committee members to select his trainees/players from his academy/club and the list of players represented from his club/academy.
He is also alleged to have appointed coaches/support staff of his club/academy with various Delhi State teams for national championships and has involved DSA staff in his club and academy work.
The members claim that his way of functioning has caused a huge “financial burden” and loss to DSA by spending funds on non-approved expenditures, making it “difficult” to sustain the different activities of the association.
It has also been pointed put that Gupta has “repeatedly failed” to conduct the mandatory AGM since 2023, making it a “gross violation” of DSA’s constitution.
Gupta denies charges
The council members pointed to DSA’s constitution that says its executive committee shall convene an extraordinary general body meeting if one third of the members make such a request in writing.
The constitution stipulates an extraordinary general body meeting to be held within 30 days of the receipt of the request.
DSA, also known as Football Delhi, has 93 clubs under its wing out of which 72-73 are under eligible to vote.
Gupta is the youngest and the first person to become DSA’s president unopposed. A lawyer by profession, he vehemently denied all allegations and threatened to file a defamation suit against those who are trying to evict him.
“They are absolutely wrong allegations. It is a motivated move to spread wrong information. Only one person is behind it. Whatever the allegations against me, where is the proof of it?,” he told News9 Sports.
“As per the DSA constitution, you can’t just kick out an executive committee member. You can only suspend a member that too after establishing his wrongdoing.
“Because of Sudeva, DSA got sponsors. When I came into power, there was no funds neither any plan,” he claimed, adding that the AGM is scheduled to be held on September 22.
Officials of 30 clubs affiliated to the DSA have written a letter to the association’s executive committee demanding the removal of Anuj Gupta as president. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
