Another day, another controversy in Indian Football. The former Indian Football Team head coach took to social media to reveal the shocking details of the shoddy administration by the All India Football Federation. Stimac was relieved from the duties of the Indian Football Team on Monday following India’s exit from the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. However, shortly after so, the Croat hit out at the apex body that the team’s poor performance was partly due to the AIFF’s negligence as well.
“Heartbroken to be honest. A wonderful journey we have been on for 5 years. But suddenly we couldn’t go on due to the responsible people at AIFF. I am sad that the project has stopped when the team was functioning with a different approach in a different era.” said Igor Stimac
“I came here with open arms but your football is IMPRISONED,” he added.
“In my career – I’ve not been sacked till now, this was the first time. And it was wrongly so – in my reply to AIFF I’ve done the same.”
Igor Stimac calls out irresponsible AIFF
In his response to the notice of termination, Stimac cited several instances of broken promises and contract breaches by the AIFF. After declaring his desire to depart if India failed to qualify for the third round, he requested that the whole AIFF panel quit alongside him, accepting responsibility for on-field failures. Speaking to the fans and the media through his social media channel, Stimac resonated with the same feeling.
“Not surprised with the parting ways, this was something which would have happened long back. Some senior officials know my decision long back. It was impossible for me to continue without ample support, I was fed with full of lies and surrounded by people who have their private interests” added Stimac Igor Stimac.
“We agreed with FSDL for a mutual calendar before WCQ and Asian Cup. New people in AIFF decided to go ahead with Kings Cup and other games without discussing with me. FSDL couldn’t do anything and so could I.” he added.
“The people in Football House run it only thinking what social media will think? There’s no other objective for those people. Not the way to run an institution.” he added.
AIFF’s below-par administration
Stimac did not mince words when criticising AIFF and their shoddy administration of Indian Football.
”It is absurd that the top-tier league in a nation is run by corporates and not the federation itself, AIFF should be organising it and not FSDL.”
” Indian football needs to be run by football people and not cricket people. The deal between FSDL and AIFF is dubious. There needs to be a public tender for such deals. We also don’t have relegation, without it there is no competition in the league.” said the former coach.
“Possibility for football to RISE without hurting any other sport in enormous, yet some cricket people have managed to hinder its development. Decision makers are protecting something. ISL-FSDL need to take a decision.” he added.
Stimac hits at AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey
Stimac did not mince words when he lambasted AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, claiming that he prioritised his own selfish demands over the teams
“Kalyan you are the one lying not me. Sooner he LEAVES, Indian Football stands a chance.Kalyan only cares about being popular – recent media meets shows that. You say he is a politician, No one knows him even in Kolkata. We need someone strong and with backing to lead us.” said Stimac.
“Me and Kalyan never had a relationship, it was obvious. I reported to secy-gen. President doesn’t indulge in these things. He gets pictures clicked with people in important position just for social media attention. He is now on a spree giving bytes to several influencers.” he added,
Igor Stimac’s controversial contract extension in 2023
Igor Stimac was given a contract extension in October 2023, by former Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran. While fans and football experts were eventually angered by this decision, their anger was further fueled after knowing the extension was handed against the recommendation of the AIFF Technical committee, It was revealed by none other than the head of the same, IM Vijayan.
“I had informed my lawyer to prepare a resignation letter last year, while it was in process I received a call from AIFF saying my extension will happen. And then later was informed that Shaji will takeover my extension talks and it happened – I was surprised.” said Igor Stimac speaking on the topic.
“In October I had signed extension, my assistants too and for others like analyst and psychologist – I was told it’ll happen. But from October only thing which happened was Shaji getting the sack. “We had to share scouting platforms from FC Goa – Wyscout and all. That was our situation,” added Stimac
“The people in AIFF don’t know how to run a football house, they don’t know how to organise cups. These people only care about POWER.”
“I had informed Satya that I’ve got two offers and I’m talking to deciding my future and by the end of the month I’ll make a decision. But asked him if he wants to terminate early then I can but need someone from AIFF who’ll take the responsibility with me.” added Stimac.
AIFF to pay Igor Stimac compensation
The AIFF terminated Stimac’s contract a year before it was due to expire. The AIFF secretariat gave Stimac a notice of termination, relieving him of his responsibilities with immediate effect. After parting ways with head coach Stimac, the AIFF is expected to pay a severance compensation of roughly $360,000 (₹3 crore). Stimac had previously issued a stern warning to AIFF, threatening to initiate an action in the FIFA Tribunal if his remaining dues were not paid within the next 10 days.
“AIFF is now panicking as they’ll have to pay up me in full, which is a HUGE amount for them. I think they’re now relying on their marketing partners to pay, anyways now I don’t care about that.” said Stimac.
Why didn’t Igor Stimac step down after FWQ exit?
Stimac had also promised to leave if he failed to take India into the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. India finished third in the group, behind Kuwait and Qatar.
“I never asked anything for myself – it was always for the TEAM. If we were not robbed in Kings Cup, against Malaysia in Merdeka and finally against Qatar – our team could have been still in top-100 and advanced to Round3.“
“Sunil told me in march he will retire in March, I told him discretely that I would also leave.“ Igor Stimac concluded.
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