FIFA, AFC delegations to visit SL in September

By Susil Premalal

A high-level delegation of FIFA and AFC will visit Sri Lanka on September (4) to examine Sri Lanka’s football administration and Constitution issues.   

Football Sri Lanka (FSL) President Umar Jaswar told the Daily Mirror that the FIFA delegation will include four members and the AFC delegation will consist of two members.   

Jaswar further said that the FIFA and AFC delegations will be visiting Sri Lanka following his recent discussions on Sri Lanka’s football Constitution with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.   

The FIFA and AFC delegations will have discussions with FSL officials in connection to the crisis with the Sri Lankan football administration and thereafter, they are set to meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and present a blueprint for the smooth operation of FSL.   

The FIFA and AFC delegation will also decide on the dates for the FSL AGM, which will be held under their supervision, after a recommendation to the newly drafted Constitution.   

Under the Sports Ministry Act and regulations all Sports Associations must conduct their elections before August (31) or face the consequence.   

The FSL elections were scheduled for August (31) but now there is an uncertainty about the date due to legal issues and because of the situation which prevailed in the country.   

Jaswar said that the current FSL administration made two unsuccessful attempts to ratify the new Constitution and conduct the elections but nearly 90 days were wasted after two leagues took legal action against the FSL.