FEI orders equestrian federation to pay coaches’ dues, hold polls

Federation Equestre Internationale, the governing body of equestrian sports, has sanctioned the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) for failing to pay dues to foreign trainers and over delays in holding elections.

The EFI had hired Christian Plage (12,500 euros) as dressage coach, Karl Schneider (22,500 euros) as jumping coach and Rodolphe Scherer (14,500 euros) as eventing coach for the Asian Games. After failing to get their dues and being disgusted with the way the then secretary general of EFI Col Jaiveer Singh offering to pay only 4000 euros, the coaches then notified the FEI.

On Monday, the FEI director governance & institutional affairs Franciso Lima informed that going forward India will not be allocated FEI solidarity projects or FEI courses till the time EFI pays the dues to coaches and elects a new body.

“Given the leadership situation of IND NF as well as latest developments concerning the organization of international events and FEI courses in India, the FEI Board has decided that: 1) until all outstanding debts are settled with the FEI officials and with the coaches hired to train the Indian Athletes for the Asian Games, and; 2) the new Executive Committee is elected: Not to allocate FEI Solidarity Projects; Not to allocate FEI Courses; advise all officials planning to travel to India for International events to refuse without prior payment of their expenses by IND NF,” Lima wrote in his letter on Monday.

Rodolphe Scherer blamed the secretary general Col Jaiveer Singh for the current mess. “I would be honest here, I have been paid a part of the dues but the problem he now is claiming as per the contract we will only be paid for four days of competition,” Scherer told The Tribune on Monday.

“We were in quarantine in China before the competition for ten days. We wanted to approach the courts but it is very difficult for us Europeans to approach the court so after several reminders we wrote a complaint to both the EFI and the FEI. It projects a bad image of the country when I know not all of them are wrong,” he added.

‘Dodged a bullet’

Acting president of FEI Col Jagat Singh said that the India body dodged a bullet as FEI could have easily suspended the affiliation. “It feels like a second chance. They could have said no participation from India so I am thankful to FEI for giving us the opportunity to put our house in order,” he said.

When asked about how the matter would be resolved, the acting president said that they are awaiting the Delhi High Court’s order regarding elections and once that comes things will move in the right direction.

“The judgment in the case filed by Rajasthan’s body is reserved. We are waiting for the decision. As far as the payments are concerned we will have to sit down with all the stakeholders including the court appointed observer Dr SY Quaraishi to find a way out as this is very bad for the image of the country,” he added.