PUNE: In an era where social media has become a powerful medium to air opinions, the ‘wheelers and dealers’ of the Pune District Football Association (PDFA) seems to be oblivious of the changing world.
The PDFA has issued show cause notices to the clubs whose players recently spoke against the promotion scandal.
In the show cause notice, the PDFA has mentioned that the said clubs have been levelling false, baseless allegations against the society and committee members which has caused harm to the reputation of the society and trustees. The notice further states that the sole intention of the clubs was to harass the trustees and cause injury and damgage to the reputation of the society.
The clubs have now been called upon to show cause that, why their affiliation be not removed for their acts. The clubs have been instructed to give their explanation to the show cause notice and if they fail to give a written reply to the notice within seven days, the governing body shall take necessary action against the clubs.
“I find it really funny, we tried everything possible to get a response on our queries from the association. I personally asked them questions face to face during this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). I sent messages on the WhatsApp group which was created by the association for the four divisions. I have called up Pyarelal Choudhary, Vice President, PDFA, but none of my calls were answered or returned. This is really a sad state of affairs,” Shanup Nair from CMS Falcons told Sakal Times.
Vijayan Arland from Fatima XI said “There has been no abusive or filthy language being used. I hereby confirm that the Fatima XI secretary has not done any unlawful act of cruelty nor will do so in future to any PDFA Committee member/ office bearers to have such allegations raised. The allegations mentioned by the PDFA is wrong.”
Adding further, Arland said “I have replied to the PDFA about all the allegations they have put on my team and have asked for their response. If needed and if there is a requirement to take it further I am open to it. And I have already told them that I am fine with having a dialogue with them in person.
Sohan Singh Sona from Strikers FC, whose club also got the notice said “This was to happen. If you are pointing out against a wrong decision or wrong work going on in PDFA, you will get a show cause notice. It is expected. You don’t have rights to question the PDFA, it shows.”
Rojer Richard from Jolly Rangehills FC added “I personally feel that PDFA has still not understood our demands properly or they are trying to play around because they don’t want to answer our questions. As far as teams and players keep quiet, all is well with the association. From the time few teams have started speaking on the wrong doings and wrong management decisions by PDFA.”
FURTHER COURSE OF ACTION
Nair is confident that he would continue to question PDFA functioning
There are plans to engage the Charity Commission to investigate the decisions taken by the association.
“I have engaged Western India Football Association (WIFA) in our communications too, but somehow they do not seem to take any interest in addressing our concerns as they believe that they are not answerable to anyone,” said Nair.”
“With no options left, we had to talk to the media with number of registered reputed teams from Pune trying to raise the same situation.We always wanted a clean system to promote only football and not dirty politics by any association who are doing things for their personal benefits. These are the same association members whom we trusted, supported and voted some years back when there was a division in association as they needed all registered teams support to come on ruling body to run the association. The association members need to know that their existence in respective chairs is only because of its registered clubs votes.”
Nair was quick to chip in saying “If the association is not answering our questions, the people and bodies governing them are not responding, what are we expected to do. The association needs to know that their existence is because of the clubs.”
“It is imperative for the PDFA governing council to give penchant proofs to me and affiliate club members if the Trust rules registered with the Charity Commissioners/ Society Act of Pune, bars or bans or prohibits it affiliate members to raise voice or concerns or highlight inefficiency in media, print media or any kind of media,” Arland stressed.
PDFA’S PRESSURE TACTICS?
Players have also alleged that organisers of a football tournament have denied entries to six clubs because the PDFA verbally instructed them to do so.
The PDFA decision to instruct the organisers of VOBA Cup to not give entry into the tournament to desenting teams, has come for criticism from various quarters.
Most felt that there should be open to dialogue both with teams and media if PDFA believe that they were not doing anything wrong.
THE PROMOTION SCANDAL
- Teams supposed to be promoted from 3rd to 2nd: CMS Falcons B and Strikers FC.
- Added teams promoted: GOG FinIQ, Central Railways, Pune, Real Pune Utd.
- From second to first: Sanghvi FC and KP XI
- Added team: PIFA
There needs to be a change in the way things are done and followed by PDFA, for the betterment of football in Pune. Everything is taken for granted. The concern is still the same we have not got a reply to our letter sent to the PDFA
—Vijayan Arland (Fatima XI official)
PDFA has never bothered to take any interest in addressing our concerns. I guess the reason for their attitude is because they have made themselves lifetime members in the association
—Rojer Richard (Jolly Rangehills FC)
We were informed by the organisers that PDFA had verbally instructed organisers of VOBA Cup that six teams should not be given entry. I took a stand against the association and I feel my team should not be treated like this for my actions.
—Shanup Nair (CMS Falcons)
