New Delhi: On Saturday, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) unveiled Spanish manager Manolo Marquez as the head coach of the senior men’s national team. Marquez, who replaces Croatian Igor Stimac, has a tough job in his hands.
Before Marquez’s name was announced, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey had said that the new head coach would be picked based on the ability to bring in the right results. A high-profile candidate, he added, would not be selected blindly.
“I believe the result matters a lot. We will be looking at someone who can develop Indian football. And whoever gets appointed as chief coach, we want him to add a lot of potential to the national team’s performance,” Chaubey told PTI videos in an interview.
Results, indeed, are what the Indian football team and its fans are praying for. The Blue Tigers failed to reach the third round of FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. The team saw their rankings drop by three places to 124th in the FIFA rankings released in June, the worst since 2017, when it was placed 132nd. Currently, India are ranked 22nd among the Asian teams.
But results are unlikely in the immediate next few months. Coach Stimac was sacked in June after the team failed to make headway in the World Cup qualifiers. The Croatian also did no favour to himself as he lost nine matches and drew two in his last 12 games.
The former head coach then unleashed a torrent of criticism against Chaubey, who himself was caught in a power struggle with former AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran.
Stimac lambasted the AIFF and its president Chaubey, making stunning revelations about the federation’s functioning. In a virtual press conference on 21 June, Stimac described Indian. football as “imprisoned” and expressed his pessimism about its future prospects. “I came with an open heart to Indian football. But your football is imprisoned. It will take a couple of decades for things to improve, which I don’t see happening.”
Stimac disclosed that he underwent a heart surgery prior to the Asian Cup, citing the immense stress that came with the job. “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,” he alleged.
He further criticised the AIFF’s technical committee, questioning the role of former player IM Vijayan as its head. He said “IM Vijayan was a fantastic player, but he shouldn’t be the one presiding over the technical committee (TC).” Stimac also expressed frustration over the lack of support from the technical committee.
“The sooner Kalyan Chaubey leaves AIFF, the better it is for Indian football,” Stimac said. “Football is the most popular sport in the world, but India is the only place where football is not growing,” he added.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) responded to Stimac’s criticisms, accusing him of trying to damage the federation’s reputation and belittle its staff. It expressed disappointment with Stimac’s remarks, which they saw as unfounded and unfair, despite their efforts to support him during his tenure as the head coach.
Stimac then launched a fresh attack on Chaubey. “We were together at the same hotel for 3 days, being in the same hotel as the national team coach. He didn’t find it convenient to call me, sit down with me and discuss. No, he was chasing (renowned coach) Arsene Wenger to take a photo with him.”
FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development Mr. Arsene Wenger, along with AIFF President Mr. Kalyan Chaubey, arrived at the Bhubaneswar Airport, where he was greeted by Special Secretary to CM, Odisha, and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Services,… pic.twitter.com/JDgMwwF2M2
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 20, 2023
“What did Kalyan bring, if he was coming from the leading party, knowing that our budget was reduced by 85%. Why didn’t he bring that back?” the World Cupper said, referring to the AIFF boss’s affiliation with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
As recently as in July second week, Chaubey lost in the West Bengal assembly bypoll to the candidate whose husband had trounced the AIFF chief in 2021.
Incidentally, the AIFF wasn’t just fine before Chaubey took the reins in 2022. His predecessor, Praful Patel, was embroiled in a string of controversies, including allegations of election tampering and clinging to power illegally. The fallout was severe, with the FIFA handing India a suspension in 2022 and stripping the country of its U-17 Women’s World Cup hosting rights.
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Explosive letter
Meanwhile, Shaji, the ousted secretary general who was terminated due to “breach of trust” in November, brought out a letter addressed to the presidents and secretaries of AIFF member associations and members of the executive committee. One of the allegations against the AIFF boss is undue favour shown towards a production vendor.
Is it not also the responsibility of the AIFF Executive Committee to order an investigation on this serious allegation, whether Mr Kalyan Chaubey as President of the AIFF has offered to accommodate TMC functionary into AIFF structure?
I will not be surprised if this allegation… https://t.co/5lsjGDIxmm
— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) July 9, 2024
Shaji accused Chaubey of mismanaging AIFF’s finances, failing to secure funding, and rejecting essential expenses. He further alleged that Chaubey’s misguided priorities jeopardised AIFF’s financial stability, leading to the significant budget reduction in the 2024-25 I-League season.
“Now that outgoing coach Stimac has said that the sacking of Shaji can’t be good, he has come out in support of the coach? Shall we see it as patting each other’s back,” Chaubey had said in response to a news agency. “Before making any allegations, Shaji should clarify his actions.”
Earlier, in March, Nilanjan Bhattacharjee, the AIFF’s then principal legal advisor, wrote to the prime minister alleging that Chaubey engaged in corrupt practices such as manipulating tender processes and misusing funds for personal expenses.
Chaubey had denied the allegations and threatened legal action against. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has asked Bhattacharjee to submit evidence in support of his allegations. Bhattacharjee was sacked soon after by the football federation.
The retirement of footballer Sunil Chhetri has only added to the woes, leaving a void that seems difficult to fill in the national team. The Indian striker’s last game for the national side ended in a goalless draw against Kuwait, as the football team faltered in its bid for third round of World Cup qualifiers.
On 10 July, President Droupadi Murmu unveiled and flagged off the Durand Cup, the President’s Cup and Shimla Trophy at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest and the world’s fifth oldest football tournament. “All stakeholders in the country should work together for the upliftment of the game in India,” the President said.
If India is to achieve its dream of playing in the World Cup, drastic measures need to be taken to address issues, revamp the system, and foster a conducive environment for growth. But, are our football stakeholders and administrators hearing it out?
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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