Who was Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi? Five quick facts about first Indian match commissioner in FIFA World Cup

Veteran Congress leader and former information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi breathed his last at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi at around 12.10 pm on Monday. He had suffered a massive cardiac arrest in 2008 that severely damaged one part of his brain because of the prolonged disruption of oxygen supply. Dasmunsi was in a coma since 2008. (Photo | PTI)

Veteran Congress leader and former information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi breathed his last at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi at around 12.10 pm on Monday. He had suffered a massive cardiac arrest in 2008 that severely damaged one part  

He was responsible for strengthening the party’s organisational strength throughout West Bengal. (Photo | AFP)

Dasmunsi in 2006 became the first Indian to be a match commissioner in a FIFA World Cup game when he performed the role in a group stage game between Australia and Croatia in the 2006 World Cup.(Image Courtesy Twitter @IndianFootball)

He was heading the Indian football governing body at the time of his stroke in 2008, which led to Praful Patel taking over as president. (Image Courtesy Twitter @IndianFootball)

Dasmunsi earned a rare distinction during his tenure in 2006, FIFA as the first Indian to be the match commissioner. Popular football player and former Indian Football captain Baichung Bhutia paid tribute to the former AIFF chief. Dasmunshi was also a member of the Asian Football Confederation’s Executive Committee. (Image Courtesy @MamataOfficial)