Former India football captains Oinam Bembem Devi and Joe Paul Ancheri are among nine former players who have filed nominations for four Sportspersons of Merit (SOM) positions in the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The elections for these four positions will take place on November 23, with the successful candidates becoming eligible to vote in the AIFF elections scheduled for December 20.
The nominations mark an important stage in the process of selecting the former players who will have a say in choosing the federation's next office bearers. Four representatives, comprising two men and two women, will be elected through a vote involving 40 former footballers.
Bembem Devi and Joe Paul Ancheri Lead the List of Candidates
Oinam Bembem Devi, one of India's prominent former women's football captains, has entered the contest for one of the two female Sportspersons of Merit positions. She is joined by Shukla Dutta, Bentla D'Coth, Kalpana Das and Sradhanjali Samantaray.
For the two male positions, former India captain Joe Paul Ancheri is among four candidates competing for selection. The other nominees are U Sharaf Ali, Bruno Coutinho and Mushtaque Ali.
With nine former players contesting four positions, the November 23 election will determine which individuals earn the opportunity to participate in the next stage of AIFF's electoral process.
Who Will Vote in the November 23 Election?
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The four representatives will be selected by an electoral college comprising 40 former footballers, equally divided between men and women. The voting group includes several well-known names from Indian football, making the selection an important step in bringing former players into the federation's decision-making structure.
Among the names in the electoral roster are Bhaichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan, Climax Lawrence, Ashalata Devi and Aditi Chauhan. Their participation highlights the involvement of players who have represented Indian football across different generations.
The Sportspersons of Merit positions are part of the process through which former athletes gain representation in the General Body of national sports federations. The AIFF had previously invited applications from eligible retired footballers to prepare separate men's and women's rosters.
AIFF Election 2026: Important Dates and Next Steps
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The nomination process will move through scrutiny and publication of the final candidate list before the November 23 vote. Electoral Officer Rajeev Sharma will oversee the process.
The next important dates are:
- November 19: Publication of the list of validly nominated candidates after scrutiny.
- November 21: Publication of the final list of contesting candidates.
- November 23: Election of four Sportspersons of Merit, comprising two men and two women.
- December 20: AIFF General Elections to elect the federation's new office bearers.
The December 20 election date was decided at the AIFF Special General Body Meeting held in Kolkata on October 4, 2026. The federation appointed former Haryana State Election Commissioner Rajeev Sharma as Electoral Officer to oversee the electoral process.
The November 23 vote is therefore more than a selection exercise involving former footballers. It will determine four representatives who become eligible to participate in the subsequent AIFF elections, giving them a role in deciding the federation's next leadership.
FAQ
1. Who are the former India captains contesting the AIFF SOM elections?
Oinam Bembem Devi and Joe Paul Ancheri are among the nine former footballers who have filed nominations. Bembem Devi is contesting for a women's position, while Ancheri is among the candidates for a men's position.
2. When will the AIFF Sportspersons of Merit elections take place?
The elections for the four Sportspersons of Merit positions are scheduled for November 23, 2026. The selected representatives will become eligible to vote in the AIFF General Elections on December 20, 2026.
3. How many candidates are contesting for the four AIFF SOM positions?
Nine former players have filed nominations: five women and four men. There are two positions available in each category, making the November 23 election important for all nine candidates.
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