Three prominent administrators involved in the domestic football administration in the recent past, stated that they were not unduly alarmed over their names being mentioned in a complaint filed with the Bribery Commission last week.

This was linked to corruption allegations at the Football House by civil society activist Dhaniz Ali on behalf of ‘We Are Football’ – an independent football reform movement, on 15 October.

The three officials who spoke to The Daily Morning Sports were FFSL current Vice President Ranjit Rodrigo, FFSL current Vice President Dr. Manil Fernando and FFSL ex-President Anura de Silva, respectively.

Rodrigo, who himself was a former head of the game’s local controlling body, at the outset dismissed the complaint as a ‘waste of time’ and said that he welcomes an independent and an expeditious probe by the CIABOC in order to unmask the wrongdoers.

He noted that his hands were clean during his entire tenure at Football House to date and challenged the civil society activist to substantiate his charges against him in a court of law, if possible.

Rodrigo said that he does not intend to lose any sleep over the complaint lodged with the Bribery Commission.

He said the complainant had not stipulated any specific charges against him in his complaint to the Commission, and observed that those merely contained in the Kusala Sarojini Weerawardana report ‘doesn’t not even hold water’.

When contacted incumbent FFSL vice President Dr. Manil Fernando also expressed similar sentiments to that of Rodrigo, and said he too had consulted his lawyers on possible counteraction against Dhaniz Ali.

But, he stated that his lawyers had advised him not to be unduly alarmed over it as his record has not been tainted with any allegations at the FFSL.

He maintained that he too would welcome a thorough investigation by the CIABOC, to identify the so-called ‘rogues’ gallery of the FFSL’ as he put it.

Dr. Fernando is the son of former FFSL honcho Manilal Fernando-who is serving a FIFA-imposed life ban since 2013.

He added that his name probably had been dragged into the complaint, due to the past scandals which had implicated his father-a legendary administrative figure in the local football arena.

The Football House Ex-head Anura de Silva too took a similar stance and challenged the football researcher to prove his charges against him, if any, in a court of law without seeking cheap media publicity.

De Silva who helmed the FFSL from 2015 to 2021 was at a loss to fathom as to why ‘We Are Football’ had overlooked all past heads of the Federation since Manilal Fernando when pressing such charges.

He said that it was surprising to note only a handful of officials have been identified with regard to corruption allegations at Football House.

He questioned the rationale of the civil society activist in naming Manilal Fernando, when the latter has already been slapped with a life ban by the sport’s global ruling body.

Three others identified in the complaint to CIABOC are incumbent FFSL head Jaswar Umar Lebbe,former executive committee member Zahran Sinhawansa and FFSL staff member Ashif Ansar. 

Lebbe through his lawyers has already sent an LOD to Ali seeking damages to the tune of Rs. 500 million.