AIFF members resist reserve withdrawal over friendly costs

All India Football Federation members have stalled president Kalyan Chaubey’s proposal to draw on its fixed-deposit reserves to meet liabilities arising from three high-profile international friendlies.Officials who attended the November 1 special general body meeting said members opposed using the funds after questioning how the matches against Brazil, Uruguay and Panama had been financed.A senior state association official said: “Yes, he said he wants to liquidate the AIFF’s fixed deposit to pay the deficit arising out of the international friendlies. Later, he also said that he would arrange funds from outside sources and then pay back whatever amount is to be withdrawn from the fixed deposit.”The three matches have been estimated to cost between ₹800m and ₹850m, although the size of the actual shortfall was not disclosed to members, according to the official.That distinction leaves uncertainty over how much the federation owes, what income has already been secured and how much would need to be withdrawn from reserves.The official said a confidentiality clause in the agreement was cited as the reason for withholding the financial details.AIFF vice-president NA Haris reportedly intervened to remind the meeting that the executive committee had already decided against liquidating the fixed deposit.Other members argued that the reserves should be preserved for emergencies, with an executive committee member separately confirming widespread opposition to Chaubey’s proposal.The discussion also brought scrutiny of earlier assurances that external funding would cover the fixtures without placing a financial burden on the federation.Former AIFF president Praful Patel challenged Chaubey on those commitments and sought details of the payments required.The state association official said: “Praful Patel asked Chaubey to let all the members know when and how much money the AIFF will have to pay to the creditors.“Later on, it was decided that Haris would invite some persons from the general body and he would discuss this issue in a meeting, and then it will be placed before the executive committee again whether to approve the liquidation of the fixed deposit to pay the debts of AIFF or not.”The proposal has therefore been deferred for further discussion rather than approved, with the executive committee expected to reconsider the matter after that review.Members also questioned how the federation would finance national competitions, development programmes and the Santosh Trophy while continuing to incur losses.Those concerns extend the dispute beyond the cost of staging the friendlies to the resources available for the AIFF’s wider responsibilities, with the outstanding liabilities and their proposed funding still to be clarified.