AIFF President Kalyan Chauney made his stance clear on Igor Stimac’s future as the coach and the federation find themselves at crossroads. Indian Football Team’s 1-2 loss to Qatar and the end of their FIFA World Cup qualifiers run, have again raised the pressing questions of Stimac’s future. Stimac himself had claimed earlier that he would step down, but now that he is unwilling to do so, AIFF cannot sack him either.
‘All I want to say is a lot of excuses have been brought to hide one’s mistake. Any mature person can see that being done. There have been excuses before the game and after the game. It cannot work like this. When you conduct a game in the FIFA window, we maintain all the necessary rules of FIFA. You can’t always do what you want.’ said Kalyan Chauney in an interaction posted by AIFF.
Igor Stimac shifts blame on AIFF
However, like his many other empty promises Igor Stimac unruled the possibility of stepping down while shifting the entire blame on the federation. Stimac claimed that the federation failed to provide him with all the necessary amenities. While Stimac’s claims are not completely untrue, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey defended the federation.
‘You wanted a 9-10 month long league with all your top NT players, we gave that. There is a time frame for that league also. then you want matches in FIFA window, and also longer camps. You have to choose one.’
‘Earlier it has happened when the National Football League when the league was halted. But we cannot do the same now, because the leagues are being done in a professional way as per FIFA guidelines. So now we have to decide if we are gonna go by FIFA or our own rules‘ Kalyan Chaubey concluded.
Check out more latest news on Indian Football Team
Does AIFF want to let go Igor Stimac go
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is preparing to part ways with Indian Football Team head coach Igor Stimac, but it would not be easy. When asked if he wanted to continue with Stimac at the helm, Kalyan Chaubey responded that it was not his choice and that the AIFF Technical Committee had the last word.
‘I cannot decide that. As a President, it is not my job. We have a proper technical committee with qualified members to take that decision.’ said Kalyan Chaubey.
However, the funniest part about the same is when the head of the very same ‘technical committee’ IM Vijayan disclosed that Stimac’s contract was extended in October, against the technical committee’s recommendations.
“We thought we had to move on from him, but we found out only through the media that his tenure had been extended,” Vijayan told Sportstar earlier.
Why can’t AIFF sack Igor Stimac?
Igor Stimac’s future as India’s head coach is now reliant on his decision, since the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has little room for negotiating after handing him a two-year contract extension last year. The coach now earns close to $30,000 a month.
Igor Stimac’s contract expires in 2026, therefore if the All India Football Federation fires him, he will be reimbursed for three months. However, if the AIFF fails to do so, Stimac may go to FIFA, something the federation would want to avoid.
Editor's Pick
Cricket
IND vs AUS Perth Test: India sans Rohit Sharma begin last mile of WTC Final Race 2025
Top Stories
