The Indian Football Team has hits a new low following their dismal performance against a depleted Afghanistan resulting in a 2-1 loss. This defeat was particularly hard to accept given India’s higher FIFA world ranking (117th) compared to Afghanistan (158th) and marked India’s first loss against Afghanistan in over a decade. With India’s hopes of advancing to Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers hanging by a thread.
Since taking the helm in 2019, Stimac received a contract extension last year, ensuring his tenure until June 2026. However, over the past year, starting from June 2023, India suffered defeats in various tournaments including the Asian Games, King’s Cup, Merdeka Cup, and the Asian Cup, culminating in a loss against a weakened Afghanistan side. Presently, the Indian team has not secured a victory in six consecutive matches.
With the nation’s FIFA Ranking slipping to 122, there is increasing discontent within the sports ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) regarding Igor Stimac’s coaching methods for the national football team and the uninspiring long-term vision of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
SAI seek answers from AIFF and Igor Stimac:
Despite allocating significant funds to the Indian football team’s national camps, exposure trips abroad, and international assignments through the Annual Competition and Training Calendar (ACTC), sports administrators have reached the limit of their patience due to the team’s poor performances over the past year and Stimac’s recurring excuses after each embarrassing loss.
SAI has convened AIFF’s top officials, including Kalyan Chaubey, for a discussion to comprehend the federation’s future strategy and the necessary course corrections after investing a staggering $30,000 (Rs 25 lakh) monthly in Stimac’s salary.
Previously, SAI and AIFF shared the burden of Stimac’s salary, but currently, AIFF bears the entire cost. However, this doesn’t absolve Stimac and AIFF from addressing tough questions that may arise during the meeting with SAI’s senior management.
While SAI lacks the authority to remove Stimac from his position directly, they retain the power to revoke his work visa if his performance fails to improve in the coming months.
