Following his dismissal as the head coach of the Indian men’s football team, Igor Stimac has made a series of serious allegations against the All India Football Federation (AIFF)
In a press conference held on June 21, 2024, Stimac detailed his grievances, accusing the AIFF of dishonesty and mismanagement. He claimed that he had decided to resign regardless of the outcomes of India’s matches against Kuwait and Qatar in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. “I was being fed lies, people were more concerned about their personal interests,” Stimac stated.
Source : NDTV
One of his primary allegations was that the AIFF finalized the national team’s calendar without his approval, which he described as a breach of contract. He also criticized AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey for not consulting him on important decisions and for prioritizing personal popularity over the team’s needs.
Source:- BBC news
Stimac also revealed that he had to undergo urgent heart surgery due to the stress caused by his role. “When I received the final warning on December 2, I finished in the hospital. I was disturbed with everything going on; stressed from the obvious problems,” he shared.
Furthermore, Stimac accused the AIFF of interfering with his public statements and team selections, which he believes compromised his integrity as a coach. He warned the AIFF to clear his pending payments within 10 days or face a lawsuit.
Despite leading India to victories in the SAFF Championship and other tournaments, Stimac’s tenure ended on a sour note due to these unresolved issues. The AIFF has yet to respond to his allegations, but they have indicated that a statement will be released soon.
Stimac’s revelations have sparked a debate about the management of Indian football and the challenges faced by coaches in the system.
What are your thoughts on the issues raised by Igor Stimac?
