AIFF Electoral list: Legends of '70s and '80s set to 'return' on different turf

Their prudence will decide the course that Indian football system charts, after more than a decade long 'One-Man show' at the helm of affairs, which has done more harm than good for the game in the country. These two and 34 other prominent internationals of their times are now part of an exclusive voter's list to elect the next governing body of All India Football Federation (AIFF) with an imminent FIFA ban looming large.

There are 24 male and 12 female former India footballers, who have been included in the initial voters' list of 67 for the elections dated on August 28 on the orders of the Supreme Court. It features some of the biggest names, including former India captains like Bhaichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan, Mauricio Alphonso, Climax Lawrence, Prasun Banerjee, Biswajit Bhattacharya, Bruno Coutinho, Oinam Bembem Devi, the lone Padma Shree awardee among women footballers in India.

As per rule, an 'eminent player' must have played at least two matches for India and must have retired two years before the date of election. The publication of the electoral college also ruled out a big politician running for the AIFF president's post.

Former sports minister and current union minister Sarbananda Sonowal's name was doing the rounds as presidential candidate. Assam Football Association President Naba Kumar Doley, who is also a BJP MLA in the state, is in the electoral college and so also Football Delhi chief Shaji Prabhakaran.

Any person who is a member of the electoral college and an Indian citizen can fight for the AIFF president's post. These elections to the All India Football Federation are being held in the backdrop of world governing body FIFA's threat to ban India and take away hosting rights of Under-17 Women's World