Eminent Luminaries

Justice Raghvendra Kumar (Retd. Allahabad High Court) was born on April 1, 1956. He graduated in Law from Allahabad University in 1973 and began his judicial career in 1979 when he was appointed to the P.C.S. (J). He was later promoted to the Higher Judicial Service in 1999 and subsequently appointed as District & Sessions Judge in 2011.

He took oath as an Additional Judge on February 18, 2015, and was later elevated as a Permanent Judge on January 16, 2017. He served with distinction at the Allahabad High Court until his retirement on March 31, 2018.

Currently, he holds the position of Deputy Chairperson of the AIFF Disciplinary Committee, where he continues to contribute his legal expertise and judicial experience.

Justice Ravindra Singh (Former Judge, Allahabad High Court) was born on July 2, 1953. He graduated in Science from Agra University in 1974 and later earned his Law degree from Allahabad University in 1977. He enrolled as an Advocate on December 21, 1978, and specialized in criminal law practice at the Allahabad High Court.

Throughout his distinguished career, he served as a Government Advocate and Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh, handling key legal matters for the state. His judicial excellence led to his elevation as an Additional Judge on September 24, 2004, and he later took the oath as a Permanent Judge on August 18, 2005. He continued serving at the Allahabad High Court until his retirement on July 1, 2015.

Currently, Justice Ravindra Singh is the Chairperson of the AIFF Players' Status Committee, where he brings his vast legal expertise to football governance and player-related matters.

Ranjit Kumar Pachnanda, a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and former Director General (DG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Director General NDRF, has had an an illustrious career in law enforcement and public administration. He has held several key positions, making significant contributions to national security and governance.

Former Positions:

Chairman, Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission
Chairman , Haryana Public Service Commission

Director General, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

Director General, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

Commissioner of Police, Kolkata

He currently holds the position of Chairperson of the AIFF Ethics and Dispute Resolution Committee, where his vast experience contributes to maintaining transparency and ethical governance in Indian football.

Inivalappil Mani Vijayan (born 25 April 1969) is a former Indian footballer who captained the India national team as a striker.

He has also acted in several films, with his movie Mmmmm being shortlisted for India’s entry into the 93rd Academy Awards.

Vijayan has received numerous accolades, including the Arjuna Award (2003) and the Padma Shri (2025) for his contributions to Indian football.

He is currently serving as the Chairman of the AIFF Technical Committee.

Shabbir Ali (born 26 January 1956) is an Indian football manager and former player. He was awarded the Dhyan Chand Award in 2011, the highest honor in Indian sports for lifetime achievement, making him the first footballer to receive this prestigious award.

With a distinguished career in Indian football, both as a player and coach, he has significantly contributed to the sport's growth in the country.

Presently, he serves as a Member of the AIFF Executive Committee.

Bimal Ghosh (born 29 June 1956) is a former Indian footballer and coach, best known for his 18-year tenure as Head Coach of Air India Football Club in Mumbai.

A recipient of the Dronacharya Award, Ghosh has been recognized for training players who achieved outstanding results in international competitions. He also won the NFL Best Coach Award.

Ghosh has produced over 32 players for the Indian national team and many more for youth teams. Several of his trainees have had successful careers in the Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League.

Subrata Paul (born 24 December 1986) is a former Indian professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Regarded as one of India’s finest goalkeepers, he was known for his exceptional reflexes and leadership on the field.

In recognition of his contributions to Indian football, he was honored with the Arjuna Award in 2016 by the Government of India.

He currently serves as the National Team Director at AIFF.