Exclusive: GFDC, Churchill Brothers accused of misusing public funds

An FIR has been lodged against the two organizations at Anti-Corruption Branch Altinho, Goa.

An FIR has been filed against the Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) and Churchill Brothers Pvt Ltd. According to the complaint, the said parties are accused of misappropriation and siphoning off of ₹1.15 crores of public funds in the name of football development in 2017. Khel Now have exclusively got access to the copy of FIR filed by Cliffton Desouza from Salcete, Goa to the Superintendent of Police, Anti-corruption Branch, Altinho, Panaji, Goa.

"The GFDC is a public institution funded entirely through the public exchequer for development of thesport of football. The GFDC committee under the Chairmanship of Rufino Monteiro, Member Secretary Alexio Costa and other members have indulged in fraudulent transfer of nearly ₹1.15 crores to a private limited company without exercising due diligence, thereby causing unjust enrichment of the said private limited company operating as corporate football club by name 'Churchill Bros Sports Club Pvt Ltd," a part of the report read.

The report further alleges that GFDC committee members Rufino Monteiro and Alexio Costa had initiated talks with Churchill Brothers and FC Goa. While the latter declined the offer, the former showed willingness to make the move. In a meeting held by the committee to discuss the move saw conflict of interest between the members.

Thereafter, the GFDC sent out proposals regarding a tie-up through official e-mails to the other top clubs in Goa including Dempo SC, Salgaocar SC, Sporting Clube de Goa and Vasco SC. However, as per the report, the committee didn't allow much time to the said clubs and concluded that Churchill Brothers were the only interested party to make the move.

"Major decision of not only tying up with Churchill Bros is taken as being the only club that sent proposal, but another shocking decision of paying Churchill Bros an undisclosed fee for fielding the players trained by GFDC is also taken. Add to that, the fee would be charged by Churchill Bros and would be paid by the GFDC," the document further read.

"Nowhere in the world of sports anything as this would happen, wherein the club receives the trained players and also gets paid as if they are sent on paid adoption."

The report also made the allegation that the said transfers of youth players to Churchill Brothers by GFDC were infact to support the club in fulfilling its obligation towards the AIFF, in order to be eligible to pass the club licensing criteria which they had failed and for which they were de-licensed earlier.

"As a result, all monetary investment from tax payers' funds used in training and development of the players have also gone towards the benefit of this one single club to the detriment of the entire ecosystem of football in the state."

"There was no policy of the government to sell or buy players developed through GFDC to such corporate clubs or give away such players by paying to such clubs."

"You are requested to direct registration of an FIR against the said persons under the Prevention of Corruption Act, order seizure of the relevant records and carry out investigation in the matter so that the guilty are punished under law and recovery of the sum spent is made," the report concluded.

The FIR consists of comments that are personally against some individuals and the same has been excluded by Khel Now in this report.