• Seeks world body’s consent to oust FFSL head
• FIFA’s zero tolerance on third-party interference a stumbling block 

Ex-Sri Lanka and FIFA accredited referee, administrator and football official Sunil Senaweera on Wednesday (6) stated that he will shortly write to the sport’s world controlling body, to seek their consent to effect a change in the current elected administration of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).

He said the bane of domestic football had been the ‘corruption-riddled’ incumbent FFSL administration led by Jaswar Umar, and asserted that till it is removed for once and for all, it would be impossible for the game in this country to envision a sound future.

“I will shortly be writing to FIFA in this regard,” he told reporters during a media briefing held at Nippon Hotel in Colombo.

“I know FIFA laws and regulations are clear that they don’t stand for government or political interference. However, this particular administration of Jaswar Umar must be got rid of forthwith, if football is to have a sustained future in Sri Lanka.”

Senaweera, who had officiated in over 250 international matches as a FIFA Referee, AFC/FIFA Match Commissioner and Referee Instructor, stressed that the game’s global ruling body has been kept totally in the dark of the spate of fraud and corruption charges directed at the current FFSL administration.

He opined hence it was time to open the eyes of the sport’s supreme authority to the pathetic state of the sport here, but expressed strong doubt whether the current Sports Minister had it in himself to bring forth the desired changes in the administration of the Football House.

Senaweera, a one-time General Secretary and a Vice President of the FFSL observed that he had lodged a written complaint with the CIABOC linked to financial fraud, misuse of funds, irregular financial management etc. at the Football House.

However, the one-man crusader for good governance in local football, lamented that no legal action had been initiated to date against the incumbent FFSL president, despite the release of the Kusala Sarojini Investigation Report two years ago.

He pointed out that the national Men’s team’s recent so-called rise in FIFA World Rankings to 191 was nothing to crow about, with the island-nation having been placed as high as in the 120s some 30 years ago, and insisted this was only a smokescreen having largely depended on Lankan born overseas-based players.

Asked whether he was calling for the intervention of the Government for a change in the top of FFSL administration, similar to what took place at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) recently, Senaweera said if such an arrangement is to take place then it should occur with the complete concurrence of FIFA.

This in view of FIFA Statutes explicitly having prohibited political intervention in domestic football administrations with the Swiss-based institution having banned 10 national teams since the turn of the century over perceived political interference.

Hence football critics argue that if the cricket scenario were to be applied to the Football House, FIFA would have no hesitation in suspending Sri Lanka immediately like the ICC had done it in 2023, though the Dubai-based body has been somewhat lax this time around.

Senaweera added that asking the elected FFSL officials to step down – could also be a direct violation of the FIFA Statues, as they have zero tolerance for political interventions often acting within 48-72 hours of such actions, with the international body treating it as ‘third-party interference.’

Therefore, he remarked that treading on such issues with FIFA has to be done carefully or else it could invite a suspension of the country’s membership which he termed could signal the game’s death knell.

Senaweera also put forth a litany of other charges against the current FFSL head, and mentioned that local football will continue to be in a parlous state as long as Umar’s administration is allowed to operate.