Two sports journalists have complained to the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) in the USA that they have been victimized by Football Sri Lanka and excluded from covering its activities.
K Ramakrishnan the editor of Lion Sports, a sports website operating from Colombo, said he was told by Jaswar Umar the head of the governing body of football in Sri Lanka that he and his deputy will no longer be welcome and removed from the listing.
“I was told by Jaswar that because of our critical reporting of the way Football Sri Lanka is run, we have been removed,” Ramakrisnan, a sports journalist for more than 15 years told the Sunday Observer.
When asked by Lion Sports why they were taken out, Manil Fernando, the Vice President of Football Sri Lanka said the decision was not arbitrary.
“It’s a Committee decision and I cannot comment on it,” said Fernando who at one time was critical of the activities of Football Sri Lanka but lost to Umar at an election for the hot seat two years ago.
But Fernando teamed up to support Umar at this year’s election of office bearers and became its Vice President in a turnaround that shocked football followers.
Football Sri Lanka was banned in June this year by the world governing body of the sport over mismanagement and failure to fall in line with international requirements.
The ban was lifted on conditions imposed by FIFA one of which was the conduct of an acceptable election of office bearers in October this year.
