AIFF amends constitution in line with sports code

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) amended its constitution in line with the Sports Code at its special general body meeting Friday.

The sports ministry had set Dec 31 as the deadline for all the National Sports Federations (NSFs) to adopt the Sports Code. The AIFF had conducted its elections in 2012 according to the Sports Code but had not accepted it formally then.

The amended constitution reads: "The president, the vice presidents, the treasurer and the members of the executive committee shall be elected by the general body for a period of four years, however, the president and the treasurer shall cease to hold that post on attaining 70 years of age.

"The president may hold the office for a maximum period of twelve years with or without break. The treasurer may serve a maximum of two successive terms of four years each after which a minimum cooling off period of four years will apply to seek fresh election."

AIFF president Praful Patel said: "Keeping in mind the best practices which we should follow, we have some amendments to make. There are certain principles to be adopted by us in view of the directives from the ministry of sports and youth affairs."

"We are a National Sports Federation and therefore we have to follow the guidelines of the ministry and the government of India from time to time. Keeping all the issues in mind we have adopted the necessary changes which to bring our constitution in line with the Sports Code," he added.

Patel also laid stress on the three important years from 2015 to 2017 when apart from hosting the prestigious FIFA U-17 World Cup, India may get also the right to host the Club World Cup.

"We are officially bidding for the Club World Cup in January 2014," he said.