Srinagar: Making its stand clear on the recent announcement of J&K Football Association (JKFA) forming election committee National and International Footballers Forum (NIFF) has termed the forming of committee as illegal.
NIFF on Thursday released a lengthy statement in which it has rejected the JKFA Election Committee. The rejection of the JKFA body by NIFF has also put serious question mark on the legality of recently held District Football Association (DFA) Srinagar elections in which former NIFF Chairmain Bashir Ahmad Malik was elected as President, Showkat Masoodi as secretary abd Zahoor Ahmed Teli as Treasurer. The election to Srinagar body was also held under JKFA and same was highlighted by Social media users on NIFF’s Facebook page in comment section of the statement.
“In a recent development where a self-styled JKFA body issued a press statement on social media pages regarding constitution of election committee for the conduct of elections in districts, NIFF termed the move as illegal as the term of JKFA body has ended in May 2022 and has no right to frame any body when they are nowhere into the existence. Even the tenure of all DFA’s has come to end even before the JKFA Ex-Co, reads the statement,” NIFF statement read.
“In a meeting, NIFF members altogether rejected the move and claimed that when there is no JKFA Ex-Co in place, how would other bodies be framed to conduct the elections. We are not against elections but it has to be done as per procedure & constitution of AIFF and as per the directions of Honble Court,” NIFF statement further read.
“There are some vested interested people who are hellbent to remain on the chairs illegally and unconstitutionally just to make money through scams. This so called governing body of JKFA has already dented the reputation of football in J&K among masses and God knows how far they want to go in making corruption in sports,” NIFF statement said.
“Same kind of meetings were held in various districts including Jammu & Baramulla in which message was clearly conveyed by the registered clubs of DFA’s that in no way they will accept this illegal body to conduct elections. They will fight till the last to conduct elections through a fair constituted body framed either by Court, AIFF or Sports Council so that the genuine elections are held and right people are chosen by the clubs for new association,” NIFF statement added.
The statement also puts question mark on the members from NIFF included in the JKFA elections committee. The committee that was formed recently with Sports Promoter Wasim Aslam as Chairmain also include former International footballer Arun Malhotra, Iftikhar Lone and Bashir Malik who are all members of NIFF.
“A Committee comprising of the following Associate Members of JKFA is here by constituted to conduct the Elections of various DFA’s/Zones of J&K UT in pursuance to the letter issued by J&K Sports Council vide letter no- SC/128/ 10313-16 dated-22/9/2022. The Committee will be headed by its Chairman Shri Waseem Aslam,” JKFA Statement had said.
Shri Waseem Aslam- Chairman ,Prof.B.A Shah- Hony. General Secretary JKFA, Shri Nazir Ahmad Bhat- Vice President East Zone, Shri Peer Sirajudin- Vice President North Member, Shri B.A Malik- President DFA Srinagar, Shri Mohamad Amin Khan Member, Shri Iftikhar Lone- Member, Shri Showkat Ahmad Dada Member from South Zone, Shri Arun Malhotra Member from Jammu Province, Shri Rakesh Kumar Member from Jammu Province,” JKFA statement further said.
In another statement issued by JKFA Election Committee Chairmain Wasim Aslam, the newly formed comittee held its meeting on October 17 regarding holding of DFA elections. In the same statement it was said that committee will resist move from any individual or organisation that will create hurdles in the holding of DFA elections.
“A resolution was passed that if any individual Associated Member, Club creates hurdles in taking the Election process to its logical end by exploiting the digital technology and running anti Association campaign and try to destabilize the Election, the Committee will take disciplinary action also as authorized by the executive members and Office Bearers of JKFA in the recent meeting of all DFA’s/ Zones held at Srinagar on 9/10/2022. JKFA has no agenda for or against anyone. We have been always neutral and have tried to streamline the J&K Football and take it to higher levels. The Unity of Football family needs to be kept intact, which is our paramount concern,” JKFA election committee statement read.
“No one is authorized to defame any person or any Association Member/s through Social Media, Print Media & Electronic Media. The action against the defaulters will be taken as warranted under rules . The Election will be conducted in free & fair atmosphere,” it said.
In the context of these statements by JKFA and its election committee, NIFF has made its move and it would be interesting to see how JKFA and its newly formed committee will react.