Jaswar appeals to all to rally-round and save most popular game in Sri Lanka

Jaswar Umar briefing the media yesterday 

Jaswar Umar, the Immediate Past President of Football Sri Lanka (FSL), at a press briefing held in Colombo yesterday, urged stakeholders and people of the country to rally round to save the world’s most popular game ‘Football’ from falling further into the doldrums in Sri Lanka, with the support of the Head of State. 

Failing to take positive action would result in FSL losing close to Rs. 1 billion in grants offered by FIFA, the world football governing body.

FIFA imposed a ban on FSL on 21 January citing several reasons, including lapses on the part of the Sports Minister and his officials. FSL will not only lose its membership but also several other benefits including the annual grant which enables them to run their annual calendar of activities.

The former President said the ban is a black mark for the sport, but gave an assurance he will dedicate his life to free Sri Lanka from this ban. He said that all parties, including the Ministry of Sports, should work together to achieve this goal. 

Due to this ban, Sri Lanka will lose an annual income of about $ 2 million which is likely to increase by another 20% after the conclusion of the World Cup, and the national team will not be able to participate in any foreign tour. 

FIFA certified referees cannot participate in any tournament and FSL cannot correspond with any country. He also pointed out that all international football aid will be stopped, and training workshops will come to a complete halt. He further lamented that the game will go back by 20 years if the ban is not lifted soon.

Jaswar mentioned that Sri Lanka has been banned from football due to non-acceptance of the approved new constitution, non-democratic appointment of the new officials, non-participation of officials due to the conduct of the election contrary to the basic ethics and principles of FIFA, and third party interference in football. 

“In order to lift the ban quickly, inform FIFA in writing how to reconcile the Sri Lankan Game Regulations and FIFA Regulations, promise to accept the constitution passed by a two-thirds majority last September, and immediately place the local football administration under paid officials elected by FIFA,” the former President pointed out. 

"There is a mudslinging campaign going on that the adoption of the football constitution was delayed because of me. In 2014, Sri Lanka was informed that they should work on the constitution first. The former officials did nothing. Some steps were initiated from 2019. 

“After I became President in 2021, the adoption of the new constitution was accelerated despite the Covid-19 pandemic and travel restrictions. Subsequently, Gampola and Government Services Soccer Association filed a case and did not allow anything to be done for 42 days which I explained to the Minister,” said Jaswar.

Last September he had convened a special assembly and passed the new constitution by two-third majority at which FIFA/AFC officials were present as observers. But some officials advised the Ministry to hold the election according to the old constitution and the Minister's promise to FIFA officials was broken. 

"The promises made by the ministry on the football road map have been changed as most of the people who have been talking about saving football in the past belong to the football mafia who are looking to empty the football account in which I have saved Rs. 450 million,” he further added. 

FSL election was held a few days ago at the Sports Ministry's Duncan White Auditorium. 

Former Member of Parliament, J. Sri Ranga, who contested for the post of President, won by a narrow margin of 3 votes, while former President Jaswar Umar was deprived of contesting the election according to the decision of the Sports Ministry's Appeal Committee, and based on this decision, the Election Committee took steps to deprive him from contesting the election.