​Credibility of AIFF and its relationship with state FAs at stake: GFA president

Panaji: Goa Football Association president Caitano Fernandes has complained to the All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey and its executive committee members about the “unacceptable level of mistreatment” after the state body was not properly intimated about the I-League prize distribution ceremony in Cavelossim on Sunday.
In a strongly-worded letter, the GFA president said deputy secretary general M Satyanaryanan failed to communicate properly about the I-League trophy presentation ceremony to Churchill Brothers at a south Goa hotel on Sunday.
“The utter disregard shown for the GFA and the potential flouting of a CAS order are matters that cannot be ignored. The credibility of the AIFF and its relationship with its member state associations are at stake,” Caitano wrote in his letter, a copy of which has been seen by TOI.
The letter was sent after the matter was placed before the GFA executive committee on Monday.
“The fact that a prestigious trophy was presented to a club from our own state of Goa, within the geographical boundaries of Goa, without the official representation or even notification of the GFA is an affront to our organisation and to me personally as its president. It raises serious questions about the regard the AIFF holds for its state associations. It is imperative that a thorough investigation be conducted to ascertain whether Satyanaryanan acted unilaterally or if he was instructed by individuals within the AIFF to deliberately exclude the GFA and myself from this event,” said Caitano, who is also a member of the AIFF’s League committee.
Narrating the sequence of events, Caitano said it all started with Satyanaryanan sending an email at 11pm on Saturday night inviting him for the event. The email stated that the venue and specific schedule would be confirmed upon his arrival in Goa.
The next day, Caitano said he spoke with the deputy secretary general and was promptly told that he will communicate the venue no sooner he lands in Goa at 2.30pm on Sunday. The event was scheduled to start at 4pm.
“To my utter dismay and the considerable embarrassment of the GFA, I received no further communication regarding the trophy presentation. The trophy presentation was held completely bypassing the involvement and presence of GFA,” said Caitano.
The GFA president also wondered how the order from the independent Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), was flouted, leading to possible consequences for AIFF and damaging the reputation of Indian football on the international stage.
Caitano has now demanded a comprehensive and impartial probe over the circumstances in which AIFF decided to hand over the I-League trophy to Churchill Brothers.
Meanwhile, sources said neither Satyanaryanan nor the AIFF had any intention of deliberately keeping the GFA president away from the function.
“Until the AIFF officials landed in Goa, they were themselves not aware of the venue for the prize distribution. Once in Goa, the deputy general secretary got busy with arrangements (on the phone) for the AIFF Awards Night (in Bhubaneswar later this week). Nobody wins anything by keeping the GFA or any other state association away. Nobody is being mistreated,” said the official.