All India Football Federation set for BCCI-style overhaul

TIL Desk Sports/ The Supreme Court on Friday said it could appoint an eminent footballer as an ombudsman, besides former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, to implement the Delhi high court order for reforming the constitution of All India Football Federation (AIFF).

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud also said it would pass an order on the plea filed by the AIFF challenging the high court order verdict setting aside the election of NCP leader Praful Patel as the president of the sports body.

The bench said it has already asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to cooperate in the framing of its constitution and like the Indian Cricket Board, AIFF can also be asked to frame an amended constitution incorporating the suggestions of the Delhi high court order.

“We can appoint an eminent footballer as ombudsman along with the former Chief Election Commissioner,” the bench said. The bench also asked lawyer Rahul Mehra, who had filed the plea in the high court order, to give suggestions so that the status of Indian football gets a boost.