India Football: Kerala FA write scathing letter to AIFF demanding answers regarding Santosh Trophy
The Kerala Football Association (KFA) has written to All India Football Federation (AIFF) president, Praful Patel to demand why they have been bypassed when it comes to organising the ongoing Santosh Trophy, and approaching the state government to conduct it instead.
This is not the first time that the Kerala FA have been bypassed by the AIFF when it comes to organising tournaments in the state, as the Women's nationals last November and the women's national camp in December and January was conducted by the state government rather than the state football association.
"In connection with the Santosh Trophy in Kerala, we understand that the AIFF office, with your permission, has entered into an understanding with the state government of Kerala to organize the same without even consulting the state FA. We would like to know how this understanding with the AIFF and government of Kerala state took place who initiated at the first level," Tom Jose, president of the Kerala FA wrote to Praful Patel.
Controvery in Kerala regarding organising of the #SantoshTrophy : Kerala FA has written to AIFF president Praful Patel asking as to why it was bypassed in organising the competition and the state govt. was approached to conduct it instead. Read more ?https://t.co/HYjHGDoGws
— Voice of Indian Football (@VoiceofIndianF1) April 22, 2022
"Whenever the AIFF called for a meeting we expressed our concerns to the officials and strongly placed our demands to keep our rights protected. But your office never replied to our request and avoided the state FA deliberately," the statement added.
Jose went on to reiterate that the Kerala Football Association (KFA) has a brilliant record of hosting a number of top domestic and international tournaments in the past in a befitting manner without any direct involvement of the state government and their agencies.