New Delhi: An appeal has been made to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to launch an investigation into alleged “mass fooling” by the All India Football Federation.
Through a letter to Mandaviya on Monday, former Andhra Pradesh Football Association president Gopalakrishna Kosaraju has raised instances of violation of AIFF’s constitution and multiple accusations of corruption by the Kalyan Chaubey-headed committee that is in power since September 2022.
Mandaviya had met top AIFF officials on November 28, 2024, and extended support for football’s development, speaking of chalking up an elaborate plan for the 126th-ranked India to occupy a spot of below 50 in the next 10 years.
“Major financial irregularities, improper tendering and excess payments (in crores of rupees), encouraging groupism in the states and deliberate tactic in state association elections etc are the few aspects of many, many,” Kosaraju said.
He has been a vociferous critic of the AIFF’s present committee and last year had urged its executive committee members to look into misuse of funds by top officials, while attaching bank statements as evidence of misuse of funds for personal belongings, also pointing to financial malpractice in payment for production of 2022-23 I-League matches.
‘Manipulation’
Through attached screenshots of whatsapp conversation between state members who now assume top positions within the AIFF, Mandaviya’s attention has been sought to the high salaries of its office bearers and the huge costs of multiple legal battles it is entangled in.
“One gentleman successfully misled and manipulated the entire authorities (including the rank of Union Ministers) and still continuing the same. And the respect and reputation of the country was also pledged using the same while abusing the meaning of the national championship,” Kosaraju claimed.
“Respected sir, the Government should conduct an enquiry “to punish” all on the open and deliberate misappropriations which caused major financial loss. Your immediate attention not only saves the All India Football Federation but also safeguards the football game in India.
“So, request you to order for the enquiry and investigation immediately.”
The Sports ministry and the AIFF are yet to comment on the matter.
Lifting the lid
Kosaraju had earlier also questioned the alleged use of AIFF’s money to fund personal trip of top officials and decision of withdrawing India’s bid to host 2027 AFC Asian Cup, while ignoring the pre-bidding expense of Rs 72 lakh and exhausting public funds to host the knockout matches of 2023 Santosh Trophy in Saudi Arabia.
He was sent a legal notice in February last year to issue an unconditional apology for name slandering with ‘baseless allegations’, which he countered through his lawyer saying that the multiple allegations he has raised was “not to extract any political and personal vendetta” but to highlight “misuse of the public money at a large scale” and are backed by “substantial evidence on record”.
Through a letter, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has been urged to launch a probe into instances of alleged violation of AIFF’s constitution and multiple accusations of corruption. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
