September 4, 2022: Former football captain of India, Bhaichung Bhutia said that he was shocked at the "high level" of political interference in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) elections held on September 2.
Bhutia lost to former goalkeeper and BJP leader Kalyan Chaubey. Bhutia lost by a big margin of 33-1 to Chaubey.
The AIFF elections should have been fought without any "political interference", and purely on football matters.
"I was shocked because I personally did not expect that the political interference (in AIFF elections) would be of such a high level. I thought it's a football president election and I wanted to contribute with sincerity," Bhutia said.
The 45-year-old Bhutia himself has dabbled in politics, having unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha and state assembly elections on a TMC ticket in 2014 and 2016 respectively and founded the Hamro Sikkim Party in his home state.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Former football captain of India, Bhaichung Bhutia said that he was shocked at the "high level" of political interference in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) elections held on September 2
September 4, 2022: Former football captain of India, Bhaichung Bhutia said that he was shocked at the "high level" of political interference in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) elections held on September 2.
Bhutia lost to former goalkeeper and BJP leader Kalyan Chaubey. Bhutia lost by a big margin of 33-1 to Chaubey.
The AIFF elections should have been fought without any "political interference", and purely on football matters.
"I was shocked because I personally did not expect that the political interference (in AIFF elections) would be of such a high level. I thought it's a football president election and I wanted to contribute with sincerity," Bhutia said.
The 45-year-old Bhutia himself has dabbled in politics, having unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha and state assembly elections on a TMC ticket in 2014 and 2016 respectively and founded the Hamro Sikkim Party in his home state.