AIFF to come under CAG scanner

AIFF) has reached the doorstep of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs approving an audit of the country's apex football body. According to a letter, a copy of which is with Times Sport, the Sports Ministry has sanctioned an audit of the AIFF for the last four financial years, 2017-18 to 2020-21, after the Special Cell of the CAG sought its approval. The letter dated March 7, 2022 (Fo.

No. 28-3/2022-SP.III), addressed to the Director, Special Cell, Office of Director General of Audit (Home, Education and Skill Development), says that the MYAS is "directed to convey sanction for conducting audit of the AIFF from 2017-18 to 2021-22 under Section 14(2) of CAG's Act 1971". The Sports Ministry was responding to a request by the Special Cell of the CAG (Reference letter Spl Cell/4-339/AIFF/2020-21/449, dated Feb 18, 2022), seeking approval to conduct a special audit, acting on a complaint received over financial corruption in the AIFF.

"A copy of this report may be sent to this Ministry for taking further necessary action," the letter further states. Also marked in the correspondence are the General Secretary, AIFF; the Secretary General, Sports Authority of India; ED (Teams); Jt Secy (Sports), Jt Secy and Financial Adviser, Director (Finance), and PS to Minister of the MYAS. When contacted, the AIFF said, they had received no such letter regarding a special audit "but every year a copy of the audited financial statements are submitted to CAG," general secretary, Kushal Das told TOI.