All posts tagged: AIFF controversy

Valanka Alemao alleges harassment by Kalyan Chaubey, AIFF denies claims

Valanka Alemao alleges harassment by Kalyan Chaubey, AIFF denies claims

A fresh controversy has emerged within the All India Football Federation, with Women’s Committee head Valanka Alemao accusing AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey of harassment during an Executive Committee meeting in New Delhi. In a formal communication addressed to committee members, Alemao alleged that she was “heckled and harassed” during the meeting held on March 29 at the Football House. The complaint has brought renewed attention to internal functioning and governance standards within Indian football. Detailing the incident, Alemao wrote, “I wish to place on record the entirely disgusting behaviour of the AIFF President Mr Kalyan Chaubey, Vice President Mr N. A. Haris and Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan. I feel deeply prejudiced and I found that several attempts were made by the President to suppress my voice.” She further stated, “The President made remarks against me which were unnecessary and disrespectful. He along with the DSG raised his tone time and again beyond an acceptable decibel with the intention to intimidate me. Throughout the course of the meeting, I was consistently targeted.” Federation rejects claims, …

Churchill Brothers withdraw from Super Cup amid I-League title controversy

Churchill Brothers withdraw from Super Cup amid I-League title controversy

Churchill Brothers have officially withdrawn from the Super Cup 2025, citing the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) “unfair and opaque seeding process, as per reports.” The club, which finished top of the I-League 2024–25 table*, has accused the federation of denying them their “rightful place and trophy” despite their on-field performance. Churchill Brothers have withdrawn from the Super Cup 2025 “in protest against the AIFF’s unfair and opaque seeding process.” Despite topping the I-League table, the club said they were “denied our rightful place and trophy, against the rules, spirit, and integrity of football.” — Marcus Mergulhao (@MarcusMergulhao) April 13, 2025 The club expressed that they felt denied their rightful place and trophy, claiming it went against the rules, spirit, and integrity of football. They added that their decision to withdraw from the Super Cup 2025 was a form of protest against what they described as an unfair and non-transparent seeding process. The I-League season concluded dramatically on April 6, with three final-day matches shaping the title race: Inter Kashi defeated Rajasthan United 3-1 in …

Ranjit Bajaj takes AIFF to court over Secretary General’s appointment

Ranjit Bajaj takes AIFF to court over Secretary General’s appointment

Delhi FC director Ranjit Bajaj has filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court against the All India Football Federation (AIFF), challenging the appointment of Anilkumar Prabhakaran as its Secretary General. Bajaj argues that the appointment violates the National Sports Code, 2011, and is seeking legal intervention to remove Prabhakaran from his position. The Bridge has access to the 53-page writ petition filed in the Delhi High Court, and these are the important points from the document. Allegations of rule violation The petition claims that Prabhakaran was elected as an AIFF Executive Committee member in 2022 later resigned and was appointed Secretary General in 2024. This, Bajaj contends, is in direct violation of a 2022 directive issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), which bars former executive committee members from taking up administrative roles in National Sports Federations. The rule aims to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure fair governance in Indian sports bodies. Bajaj points out that the same directive was enforced against the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) …