AIFF Executive Member Approaches FIFA Ethics Committee Over Alleged Harassment
In a significant development within Indian football administration, Valanka Alemao, an executive committee member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has formally approached the FIFA ethics committee seeking an investigation into what she describes as "intimidation and harassment" by the federation's top leadership.
Formal Complaint Filed with FIFA
Alemao, who holds the distinction of being the first woman elected to the AIFF executive committee since 1937, has written directly to FIFA ethics committee chairperson Martin Ngoga detailing incidents that occurred during an executive committee meeting in Delhi on Sunday. In her complaint, she alleges that AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, vice president NA Haris, and deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan engaged in "entirely disgusting behaviour" toward her.
"They heckled and harassed me despite me being an executive committee member and having the distinction of being elected as the first woman to the AIFF executive committee since 1937," Alemao wrote in her formal complaint to the FIFA ethics committee.
Specific Allegations of Intimidation
In an email circulated to all AIFF members, Alemao provided detailed accounts of the alleged harassment during the executive committee meeting. She claims that AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey "made remarks which were unnecessary and disrespectful" and that both Chaubey and deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan "raised his tone time and again beyond an acceptable decibel with the intention to intimidate me."
"I feel deeply prejudiced and I found that several attempts were made by the president to suppress my voice," Alemao stated in her complaint, which she shared with all federation members.
Call for FIFA Intervention
The AIFF executive committee member has specifically requested that both the FIFA ethics committee and the FIFA women's football committee investigate the matter and take appropriate action according to FIFA statutes. "I request the FIFA ethics committee and the FIFA women's football committee to inquire into the matter and initiate action as per FIFA Statutes as I believe that such actions should not be repeated against anyone," Alemao emphasized in her communication.
She further indicated that she is exploring additional avenues to address the issue, stating: "I am also exploring the possibility of taking up the issue at other important fora so as to curb this tendency to harass and humiliate a woman member."
AIFF's Strong Rejection of Allegations
In response to the allegations, the All India Football Federation has issued a statement categorically rejecting Valanka Alemao's claims. The federation asserts that Alemao, who also serves as CEO of Churchill Brothers FC, has been exerting "sustained pressure" on the AIFF to facilitate her Goan club's interests in the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL).
About FIFA's Ethics Committee
The FIFA ethics committee, one of FIFA's independent judicial bodies, is primarily responsible for investigating possible infringements of the FIFA Code of Ethics. The committee's investigatory chamber is chaired by Martin Ngoga, who previously served as Prosecutor General of Rwanda and Special Representative to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
This development comes at a crucial time for Indian football administration and raises important questions about governance, gender representation, and professional conduct within the sport's leadership structures in the country.
