The All India Football Federation (AIFF) finds itself embroiled in yet another controversy, this time concerning the future of its employees. Internal tensions have grown significantly over delayed pay hikes, contract extensions, and widening disparities in salary structures between top-level management and lower-tier staff.
In August, AIFF conducted a performance audit of its employees, promising a pay hike ranging from 5% to 15% for staff based on individual performance evaluations. However, months later, no communication about these increments has been made, leaving employees frustrated and demoralized.
Adding to the anxiety is the precarious status of contract employees, who comprise about 60% of AIFF’s workforce. These employees, whose contracts traditionally extended year-on-year, are now facing uncertain futures. This year, their service period has been extended only until March 2025, instead of the customary one-year renewal. Many fear that this deviation signals an impending overhaul, possibly involving job cuts.
A senior employee of AIFF, speaking on the condition of anonymity, voiced their concerns. “Our contracts are coming to an end and we have no idea as to what the future holds since we have been given an extension only till March,” the official shared with Fieldvision.
While lower-level employees grapple with uncertainty, salary adjustments for higher management have drawn sharp criticism. After Shaji Prabhakaran’s ouster as Secretary General, M. Satyanarayan was appointed as Acting Secretary General until a permanent appointment was made.
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On July 20, AIFF announced Anilkumar Prabhakaran as the new Secretary General, thereby relieving Satyanarayan of his additional duties. Despite this transition, Satyanarayan’s salary saw a dramatic increase, nearly doubling his previous earnings.
The federation now pays both Anilkumar and Satyanarayan, though their combined salaries are reportedly lower than that of the former Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran.
These developments have sparked discontent among employees, who view such pay hikes as a stark contradiction to the federation’s financial struggles. Many are questioning the allocation of resources, especially when increments for the majority of the staff remain in limbo.
“We were supposed to receive increments but till date no official communication has happened. In August itself the percentage for increment was decided but till now we have not received it. During diwali also we received very feeble amount as bonus,” the employee alleged
The mounting dissatisfaction reflects deeper organizational issues within AIFF. The lack of transparency regarding both financial matters and human resource policies is eroding trust within the federation.
The calls for the financial irregularities are not new for the AIFF. Former legal advisor Nilanjan Bhattacharjee last year alleged that the President and the Treasurer Ajay Kipa, of corruption and financial wrongdoings in November 2023. While there has been no clarity provided by the federation as the Financial audit report of year 2023-24 has not been made public by the AIFF
Speaking of the financial irregularities claim against current AIFF Office bearers, former Secretary General Kushal Das claimed that the AIFF corpus had a massive reserve of 50 crore during his time at the office. He spoke to IANS in March earlier this year and informed, “……The finances of the federation were in very good shape with unprecedented reserves of over Rs 50 crore.”
With a host of disgruntled employees at the helm no wonder the workings of AIFF have been questionable in the past few months or year to say the least. In all this mess that is surrounding AIFF it is the development of Football that has taken a back seat.
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