Can Justice L Nageswara Rao overseeing the tender process be seen as “Third party” interference?
This is the question doing the rounds since the SC passed the order yesterday evening. While the AIFF is of the opinion that it should not be an issue, there are multiple opinions doing the rounds. One of the country’s leading lawyers who has also worked with very high-profile sports cases helped put things in context.
“Justice Rao was the one who finalised the constitution and filed it in the court in 2023. He was the one who was negotiating with FIFA and AFC and filed all their responses in court as well. All of these facts are on record. So if they did not have an issue with Justice Rao working with them on the constitution and if that did not constitute third-party interference, why should his involvement in overseeing the tender be construed as third party interference?”
The legal eagle then went on to say, “FIFA and AFC have worked with Justice Rao in the past and did not have an issue. I don’t see them having an issue now.”
AIFF on its part has not received the official copy of the order yet. “Once we receive the order, we will meet Justice Rao and figure out the way ahead. He must have been briefed by the court, and we will sit and decide. Overall, the order is a welcome piece of news for football”, said an AIFF functionary not wanting to be named.
It will be interesting to see how things evolve in the next few days but suffice to say that things are now set for the football calendar to resume. And if things go well, the ISL will start in December as planned.
Also Read: Supreme Court directs AIFF to invite tenders for 2025-26 season