The All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) has accused former head coach Igor Stimac of making comments with the intent to malign the organization and its personnel. The AIFF blamed former General Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran for not following specific instructions regarding Stimac’s new contract, signed in 2023. The Core Committee proposed a two-year contract offering him a monthly salary and instructed the legal team to finalize the contract with a termination clause favorable to AIFF. However, certain instructions were not followed before the contract was executed, leading to disputes. Stimac’s reliance on an astrologer for player selections was also addressed by the AIFF, stating that immediate action was taken to end this practice.
Stimac’s claims about the lack of GPS vests for his players were explained by the AIFF, citing multiple attempts to recover lost equipment and the subsequent provision of new devices. The federation also refuted Stimac’s statements about the support staff, revealing that he had a sufficient number of support staff, including additional specialists during events like the AFC Asian Cup. Additionally, concerns were raised about Stimac’s coaching style by some players and his failure to take responsibility for the team’s performance.
In response to Stimac’s remarks about heart surgery during his time as coach, the AIFF expressed shock and criticized his attempt to blame the organization for his health issues. The federation highlighted the offer to part ways on mutual terms, which was refused by Stimac due to unreasonable and unprofessional demands. The escalating conflict between Stimac and the AIFF has led to legal threats from the former coach, who has vowed to take the matter to the FIFA Tribunal if his dues are not paid within ten days. Stimac’s accusations of breach of contract and interference by AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey have further intensified the dispute, with claims of unprofessional conduct and contractual breaches. The fallout between Stimac and the AIFF raises questions about the future of Indian football and the ongoing controversies surrounding the coaching position.
