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Rift between district units and the CFA

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The growing strain in the relationship between the district units and the Chennai Football Association has come into sharp focus in the state.

The recent developments have not augured well. If the elections and re-elections in the CFA have raised disturbing questions, the district dominated-nomination list for the various posts in the Tamil Nadu Football Association is a pointer to the growing divide.

Latest development

Amidst all this comes the latest development before the July 27 TFA General Body meeting (and elections) at Courtrallam.

Sixteen districts have sought a Special Central Council meeting of the TFA on July 26 to “look into the way the CFA elections were held on July 13 as per the TFA directive.”

“We would like to see if constitutional statutes were adhered to,” said a senior district member.

As per the TFA constitution when a meeting is directed by the Central Council then the unit concerned should hold it after a 10-day notice period.

Embarrassment looms

Indications are that the present set of CFA office-bearers could be in for embarrassment in this respect. What is in store for CFA in the July 26 meeting, also to be held in Courtrallam, remains to be seen.

But Secretary E. Sugumaran is clear. “We were directed to hold the meeting and conduct elections and they were done smoothly,” he said.

In fact, after the re-elections and once the list of office-bearers was announced there were no misgivings. What has led to this sudden change now (read provocation) is the recent letter from a CFA office-bearer seeking details from TFA about the activities of the district units.

Buried in that missive lies the motive to find how many districts are actually active. As per TFA constitution, every district must conduct the leagues on a regular basis to be considered an active district.

T.R. Govindarajan clarified that “as per TFA constitution if 10 units seek for a Special Central Council meeting then I, as Secretary, will have to call it.”

Several officials agree the latest confrontation is unfortunate. For, in the final analysis, they believe it would only spread ill-will and push the TFA further down.

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