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Ex FSL Chief warns of a possible FIFA ban

29 Dec 2022 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

By Susil Premalal

Former Chief of Football Sri Lanka (FSL) Ranjith Rodrigo stressed that former President Umar Jaswar and his Executive Committee should take the entire responsibility if the World governing body FIFA impose a ban on FSL in the coming days.   

     
Rodrigo made these comments during a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday, ahead of the FSL elections, scheduled for January 14.


Rodrigo elaborated that FSL is currently under the radar of FIFA for all the misdeeds and blamed former President Jaswar for going after politicians to extend his term of office instead of following the FIFA and the AFC guidelines in establishing a new Constitution ahead of the elections.


In fact, a high-profile FIFA and AFC delegation visited Sri Lanka recently and had negotiations with Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and FSL top officials to conduct a smooth election.
However, after the FIFA and AFC delegation left the country, Sports Minister Ranasinghe acted contradictory by cancelling the previous circular and deciding to conduct the FSL election under the old Constitution.       


Rodrigo also pointed out that the three-member FSL Election Committee is acting in two different ways as they have prevented those who are over 70 years old in contesting but have allowed a corrupt former President to contest the election.     


Rodrigo also accused that FSL Presidential candidate Jaswar is using his undue influence on some of the other candidates to regain power.