Explained | Why are Indian sports bodies under scandal and scrutiny?

What are the various controversies in the football and hockey organisations of India? Why are international bodies unhappy with their functioning?

The story so far: The sports administration in India was in the headlines frequently these past few weeks all for the wrong reasons. Both the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) face potential ban/suspension if elections to the executive body are not done immediately. Hockey India has also come under scrutiny by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for the delay in conducting elections.

A seven-member delegation of the world football governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation had come to the country last month for a meeting with the Committee of Administrators (CoA). The CoA was entrusted with the running of football by the Supreme Court after the executive committee of the AIFF was dissolved for violating the Central government’s sports code. It was mandated that by July 31, the amendments to the AIFF’s new constitution have to be made and the elections for the national football body completed by September 15. If not, India would face a FIFA ban.

The IOA is also being warned of a possible suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOA elections, scheduled to have been held last December, have not been conducted yet. The recent letter from the IOC to the executive council members of the IOA expressed concerns about the multiple legal proceedings that caused delays and created unnecessary complications.

The FIH wrote to the CoA, which is currently administrating hockey in the country as the Delhi High Court found Hockey India’s executive board in violation of the National Sports Code. The letter from the FIH stresses on the need to have elections based on the rules laid down by the Indian government. It also raised concerns about Hockey India getting its act together before the 2023 World Cup, which India is scheduled to host in January.

The Sports Code, or National Sports Development Code of India to be precise, was introduced in 2011 by the Central government, which wanted good governance practices in the management of sports at the national level without interfering in the autonomy of the national sports bodies. It was widely accepted that such a sports code was needed as it was felt that most of the sports federations had become personal fiefdoms of certain individuals — many of them politicians — as they continued to remain in power for long periods. The National Spots Code laid down restrictions regarding age and tenure.

The respective federations can be put under a CoA. That is what happened with the football and hockey associations. Last May, the Supreme Court had appointed a three-member CoA led by former Supreme Court judge A.R. Dave to run the AIFF, whose president Praful Patel had to resign. The Sports Ministry in an affidavit had said that Mr. Patel continuing in his post would be in violation of the Sports Code as he had been the president for more than 12 years.

In a similar fashion, the Delhi High Court observed that the Sports Code was violated by Hockey India and a CoA was formed to run the game’s administration in India.