Process of filing nomination papers ends amid uncertainty over AIFF elections

FIFA accepting the poll process. In its statement while suspending All India Football Federation for "undue influence from third parties", the FIFA had said that it wants an "independent electoral committee to be elected by the AIFF general assembly to run the elections of a new executive committee". It had also said that the AIFF must "carry out the upcoming electoral process as per the statutory requirements and to hold its elections based on the pre-existing membership of the AIFF" (i.e state associations only).

The Supreme Court will also hear the matter on Monday after an urgent mention by the sports ministry which is keen to host the FIFA Women's Under-17 World Cup in India in October. On August 3, the Supreme Court had ordered holding of AIFF elections under the aegis of the CoA on August 28, giving 36 eminent players voting rights. But FIFA, which was not in favour of individual members forming the electoral college, suspended the AIFF on August 15.

Former captain Bhaichung Bhutia was among seven people who filed nomination papers for the post of AIFF president, according to the list issued by the returning officer appointed by the CoA for the August 28 polls. The other six are former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey, Shaji Prabhakaran (Football Delhi president), N A Haris (Karnataka association chief), Ajit Banerjee (IFA head and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's elder brother), Manvendra Singh (Rajasthan association president) and Valanka Alemao (daughter of Goa association president Churchill Alemao). For Bhutia to succeed, it is imperative that the electoral college is not without former players.