DFAs to Vote in BFF

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) yesterday paved way for the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) election by allowing the football governing body in Bangladesh to hold the polls according to the current statutes with minor adjustments.

The AFC's official website, the-afc.com, reported yesterday that AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam gave his nod to conduct the BFF elections in the current status but only after getting relevant guarantees from the BFF, Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) and related government authorities that the required structure would be in place for the next elections.

The decision came after a four-member BFF delegation, led by its president SA Sultan, met the AFC chief at his office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The FIFA and AFC had instructed the BFF's expired executive body to hold free and fair elections before April 30, 2008 but the BFF failed to activate its divisional football bodies in compliance with the directives even after ten months.

In fact, only three divisional football associations out of six have been formed so far.

It was learnt that the remaining divisions would be given time to form football associations and will have voting power apart from clubs, who fulfil the criteria, and the district football associations (DFAs) that have been formed so far.

The AFC had clarified a few days back that the DFAs, as part of the divisions, will not have voting powers but the Asian football body has moved from its previous stance.

The BFF will have to send back a list of the clubs to the AFC, which will approve their status as voters before an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) is held.

"We are very thankful to the AFC president for making this decision. It will definitely clear the way for future development of football in Bangladesh," SA Sultan was quoted by the AFC website.

"At present the district sports associations and clubs are the main players in football administration while the divisional associations are inactive. The onus is now on us to make sure that the six divisional football bodies which are being formed in compliance with FIFA's Standard Statutes, are functional and active in the next four years.

"We will now hold an EGM to amend the statutes as per FIFA and AFC directives and call for elections before the April 30 deadline," Sultan added.

Apart from Sultan, BOA chief operating officer Col (retd) M Waliullah, former national football captain Badal Roy and organiser Mohiuddin Bulbul were part of the Bangladesh delegation.