Panaji: The Goa Football Association (GFA) will require the approval of its general body to finalise the new clusters for inter-village tournaments under the Private Football Tournament Rules.The GFA Arbitration tribunal, in its order last week, stayed the executive committee’s decision taken on January 13, 2025, where they decided to amend the cluster pertaining to Salcete and Quepem talukas.“The decision rendered by the executive committee at its meeting (Jan 13, 2025) is quashed and set aside and consequently the letter bearing reference No. GFA/2024-25/P/1837 (Jan 29, 2025) issued by the respondent (GFA) to all the presidents/secretaries of all permanent clubs, is directed to be withdrawn forthwith,” states the order signed by chairman Francisco Tavora and two members, Anthony D’ Silva and Pritesh Shetty.Although the general body meet of July, 2024, authorised the executive committee to discuss and resolve issues related to cluster formation, it did not give the executive committee the power to finalise or implement decisions without addressing objections from affected clubs.Ten clubs — Cuncolim Union, Chandor, Guirdolim, Mandopa, Telaulim, Navelim Villagers, Santa Cruz Club of Poitomado, Sporting Club Davorlim and Curtorim Gymkhana – filed a petition against the state body’s decision.“We demand that the GFA executive committee should immediately start issuing new players cards as per the 2016-17 Inter-Village private tournament rules and clusters and call an EGM to decide about the new clusters and new rules, which are set aside by the Arbitration tribunal order,” club representative Oscar Martins told reporters during a press conference in Margao on Monday. “The GFA executive committee led by Caitano Fernandes was running the affairs as per their own whims and not the (GFA) constitution.”Defending the GFA’s actions, Jonathan de Sousa, vice-president (north), said the Arbitration tribunal has asked for the minutes to be ratified at the general body, while there is no direction for the 2016 rules to be followed.“The Arbitration tribunal has not gone into the merits of the pleadings, but has merely delved into the finalisation of clusters, which has to be confirmed at the general body. The request for change from Assolda clusters came much before 2022 when the new committee took over. It cannot be attributed to the present committee.”
