Former president Patel, UP assn chief Menon could be among AIFF top job contenders: sources

NEW DELHI: (Nov 7) Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel and Uttar Pradesh state unit chief Arvind Menon could throw their hats into the ring for the top post of the national governing body when its elections are held on December 20.

No one, including incumbent Kalyan Chaubey, has till now openly expressed an intention to fight for the president’s post even as Electoral Officer Rajeev Sharma on Friday asked all the member associations, through a circular, to nominate two representatives each by November 13 for the polls.

Patel, who served as AIFF president for more than 12 years till 2022, has been in the forefront on many issues plaguing the AIFF, including expressing vehement opposition to Chaubey’s proposal to liquidate the national federation’s fixed deposit to pay for the deficit arising out of the three high-profile international friendly matches.