The problem with India’s sporting bodies

Source: The post is based on an article “The problem with India’s sporting bodies” published in the Indian Express on 22^nd August 2022.

Syllabus: GS 2 Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.

News: In recent times, the national sports administration bodies for Olympic, football, hockey and few others are in court, due to governance related challenges.

History of sports’ administration reforms in India

In 2016, the Supreme Court passed a landmark ruling that agreed to the wholescale changes to the BCCI constitution that were recommended by the Justice R M Lodha committee for BCCI reforms.

Like in cricket, the SC-handpicked Committee of Administrators (CoA) are in-charge of all major sports in the country.

The courts and the CoA in-charge of football are of the view that the 50% of the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) executive committee should comprise “eminent players” as co-opted members.

What are the issues in sports administration in India

Governance of India’s national sports federations are not at par with the international standards. This misadministration is posing threats of international bans and administrative uncertainty.

Have the intentions of the court matched the implementation?

In the cricket administration, the Supreme Court’s verdict related to BCCI reforms hasn’t been fully implemented in letter or spirit. Cricket’s constitutional ambiguity continues since the BCCI’s plea, pointing to practical difficulties in implementing the Lodha reforms, is still pending.

The view of experts and reformers that appointment of players in large no. can bring changes to the sporting governance, has proved to wrong till now. Following are some examples:

1) The celebrated French footballer Michel Platini was jailed recently for a financial fraud he committed as FIFA vice president.

2) Despite the appointment of charismatic former Indian player Saurav Ganguli as the president of BCCI, cricket governance has not changed much.

3) The players haven’t been able to make improvements as they remain vulnerable to temptations and lack resolve to change the old system.