AK Mattoo denies rift with Suresh Kalmadi

Mumbai: Is AK Mattoo a victim of a flawed administrative system in Indian sports? If one were to go by the way the events have unfolded, there is little doubt about that.

Known for his honesty and integrity, Mattoo’s resignation on Sunday from all administrative posts comes as a big blow for the associations involved. Not only was Mattoo the Hockey India president, but he also was the treasurer of the Indian Olympic Association and Commonwealth GamesOrganising Committee (CWGOC).

“He was honest and upright. May be, it’s difficult to survive with that attitude in a bureaucratic environment like we have,” a top IOA official told DNA.

It is also believed that Mattoo had a rift with Suresh Kalmadi, after the latter intervened in the hockey players’ rebellion last week. “He handled that issue too bluntly. May be that didn’t go down well with Kalmadi. But yes, all was not well between the two ever since that announcement,” the official added.

Apparently, Mattoo was kept in dark about Kalmadi’s intervention to broker peace between the players and administrators and the way the whole scene unfolded, it put Mattoo in bad light. But Mattoo denied these speculations.

“He is the leader and the IOA chief. I have nothing against him, as being the IOC chief he has all the rights to intervene into such matter,” Mattoo told DNA. He said that he had spoken to Kalmadi about his decision on Saturday but didn’t hand over the letter formally.

The immediate concern for HI would be the elections, as they would have to appoint an interim president till February 7, when the elections are suppose to be held. “I would consider to continue only if I am convinced that elections would be in trouble because of me resigning. But that would be against my personal wish,” Mattoo said.

CWGOC secretary Lalit Bhanot, too, said he will try and force Mattoo to withdraw his resignation. But a hurt Mattoo is certain that he won’t return to administration again. “Looking at the way events took place, I don’t think I was portrayed positively. This is wrong when people think that I am against the players or hockey’s development. All I was saying was that I did not have money to fulfil the players’ demands,” he said.