Connect with us

News

Audit Report Uncovers Financial Mismanagement and Procedural Breaches at Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL)

Published

on

An audit report conducted by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, dated 20th July 2023, has revealed widespread financial mismanagement within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL). The audit was initiated following numerous complaints received by the Minister of Sports, Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe, and conducted by a committee comprising B.M.S.S. Basnayake, Chief Internal Auditor of the Sports Development Department (Chairperson), W.P.D.M.J. Perera, Chief Accountant of the Ministry, and B.H. Kalasuriya, Chief Internal Auditor of the Ministry.

The audit focused on five major inquiries, each uncovering serious breaches of financial protocol:

1. Purchase of Zolo Footballs

The FFSL advanced a payment of LKR 12.775 million to Ceylon Professional Sports Management for the purchase of Zolo footballs, violating government tender procedures. The full payment was made without securing a financial guarantee from the vendor, and to date of inquiry, the footballs have not been received.

Committee Recommendations:
The Finance Manager is instructed to demand either the footballs or a refund immediately. Furthermore, since the President’s office was sealed, the committee could not verify whether Executive Committee approval was granted for the payment. Once the new Executive Committee is in place, an inquiry must be made, and if approval was not granted, a complaint should be lodged with the CID.

Editor’s Comment:
How did the Finance Manager approve such a large payment without the Executive Committee’s approval, and why has no action been taken against the former President, who was reappointed despite these allegations?

2. Ceylon Provincial League 2022 Food Bills

Over LKR 13.9 million was spent on food for the Ceylon Provincial League teams, but no valid documents were attached to justify these expenses. Bills were presented on A4-sized paper, raising questions about their authenticity.

Committee Recommendations:
Suppliers have been contacted via registered post, but due to the lack of detailed billing, the committee recommends lodging a CID complaint for further investigation.

3. USD 700,000 Withdrawal from FFSL Accounts

Under the direction of the FFSL President and Treasurer, USD 700,000 was transferred from the FFSL’s foreign currency account to a local currency account without Executive Committee approval or following proper procedures.

Committee Recommendations:
A proper mechanism for handling currency transfers must be implemented to prevent such unauthorized transactions in the future.

4. USD 30,000 Media Rights Payment

The FFSL failed to receive a USD 30,000 payment for the media rights of the Mahinda Rajapakse Trophy. Additionally, Public Service Media confirmed that they did not receive USD 10,000 for broadcasting a SAFF Sri Lanka match.

Committee Recommendations:

  1. Ensure that Mr. Asif Ansar, who handled the transaction, provides the necessary receipt for the USD 10,000 payment or returns the money to FFSL.
  2. Recover the USD 30,000 media rights payment from Public Service Media.
  3. If Mr. Ansar fails to comply, lodge a complaint with the CID.

5. Zolo Sponsorship for Champions League

It was noted that Zolo sponsored the Champions League, but no documentation was found to verify this partnership.

Committee Recommendations:
Without any records, the committee could not investigate further. They recommend future deals be documented properly.

Lack of Action from Authorities

Despite these findings being submitted to the Ministry of Sports and Youth on 20th July 2023, no actions have been taken to address these serious allegations. To date, no complaints have been lodged with the CID or other relevant authorities.

The full audit report is attached for readers and relevant authorities to review.


Attachment: Full Audit Report on FFSL Mismanagement (Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, 20th July 2023)

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Football

AIFF Faces FIFA, AFC Ban Threat as October 30 Deadline Looms

Published

on

By

Indian football is staring at yet another international suspension as FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have jointly warned the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to ratify its long-pending constitution by October 30, 2025, or risk a complete ban from world football.

In a strongly-worded two-page letter sent on Tuesday (August 26) to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, FIFA and AFC expressed “profound concern” over the failure to finalise and implement a revised constitution, a matter pending before India’s Supreme Court since 2017.

If suspended, India’s national teams and clubs would be barred from all international competitions, while the country’s ambitious 2036 Olympic Games bid in Ahmedabad could also be thrown into uncertainty.

FIFA & AFC Ultimatum

The letter, signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov and AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, set out three urgent requirements for the AIFF:

1. Obtain a definitive Supreme Court order approving the revised constitution.

2. Ensure full compliance with FIFA and AFC statutes.

3. Formally ratify the constitution at the next AIFF General Meeting.

Failure to comply, they warned, would trigger sanctions, including full suspension of AIFF membership.

Previous Suspension in 2022

This is not the first governance crisis to hit Indian football. In August 2022, FIFA suspended the AIFF for “third-party interference” after a court-appointed Committee of Administrators temporarily ran the federation. That ban lasted just two weeks, lifted only after fresh elections were held in which Kalyan Chaubey defeated football legend Bhaichung Bhutia.

Domestic Fallout – ISL in Crisis

The deadlock has already disrupted Indian football at the domestic level. The Indian Super League (ISL), India’s top-tier professional league, has been put “on hold” by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the AIFF’s commercial partner, due to uncertainty over its Master Rights Agreement, which expires in December 2025.

At least three clubs have suspended operations or delayed salaries, while all 11 ISL clubs have warned of an “existential crisis.” Reports from FIFPRO further highlight cases of players’ contracts being terminated, leaving livelihoods at risk.

The Supreme Court of India will hear the matter again on August 28, a session that could determine the immediate future of the ISL and India’s football calendar.

What’s at Stake

If AIFF fails to meet the October deadline, India could lose:

• Participation in FIFA and AFC tournaments.

• Entry rights for national teams and clubs in international competitions.

• Momentum in its 2036 Olympics bid.

• Credibility with players, fans, and commercial partners.

For now, the football fraternity in India waits anxiously for the Supreme Court’s verdict and AIFF’s ability to steer through yet another governance storm

Continue Reading

Football

Heritage Derby Trophy Goes to Hameed Al Husseinie College

Published

on

By

Colombo – Hameed Al Husseinie College emerged victorious in the prestigious Heritage Derby Trophy football encounter against Zahira College, Maradana, securing a 3–1 win at the Colombo Racecourse grounds yesterday.

The match kicked off under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, adding special significance to this annual football rivalry.

Hameed Al Husseinie College took control early, leading 2–0 at halftime before sealing the victory with a third goal in the second half. Zahira College managed to pull one back, but it was not enough to challenge the dominant performance of the winners.

The trophy presentation was held soon after the final whistle, with the principals of both schools — Rizvi Marikkar of Zahira College and Mrs. Dain of Hameed Al Husseinie College — present to witness the celebrations.

This latest victory adds another chapter to the rich history of the Heritage Derby, further cementing Hameed Al Husseinie College’s reputation in school football.

Continue Reading

Football

Exclusive: AFC Fines Sri Lankan Footballer Over “Free Palestine” Message

Published

on

By

Colombo – June 13
Sri Lankan national footballer Mohamed Thilham, who recently made headlines after displaying a “PRAY FOR FREE PALESTINE” message on his undershirt during post-match celebrations, has now been officially penalized by international football authorities.

Following Sri Lanka’s 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers on June 10 at the Colombo Racecourse Stadium, Thilham—a non-playing substitute—unveiled the message, drawing both praise and criticism from various quarters.

⚠️ AFC Sanctions Player with USD 2,000 Fine

FIFA, in coordination with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has now issued a formal disciplinary notice to the player, imposing a USD 2,000 fine. This letter, according to sources within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), was sent addressing to Thilham, underscoring AFC stance on politically charged expressions at official matches.

According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, players are prohibited from displaying political, religious, or personal slogans during matches or official ceremonies. While Thilham’s gesture occurred after the final whistle, FIFA and AFC treat any action within the stadium environment as part of official conduct.

⚽ FFSL Under Scrutiny for Disciplinary Action

FFSL President Jaswar Umar previously stated that the act “was not authorized by the federation” and “violates international football disciplinary norms.” He also confirmed that the FFSL would take internal disciplinary action against the player.

However, this incident has reignited public debate over the role of athletes in social advocacy and the limits imposed by international sports law. While some supporters see Thilham’s actions as courageous and morally driven, others have raised concerns about the player’s career stability and future opportunities under increasing scrutiny.

📝 Editorial Insight

At Sri Lankan Sports TV, we initially chose to withhold the content of the message in our match coverage—out of responsibility to the player’s career and to respect global sports protocol. However, the message went viral after several social media users circulated the full image, seemingly with the intention of sparking controversy.

The resulting spotlight has unfortunately led to a formal penalty, underscoring the real-world consequences that athletes may face when international regulations intersect with personal conviction.

Continue Reading

Trending