Stimac Accuses AIFF Chief of Dishonesty, Calls for Change in Indian Football Leadership

India's head coach, Igor Stimac, who was recently sacked by the All-India Football Federation after a disastrous World Cup Qualification campaign, was scathing in what turned out to be his last interaction with the Indian media. The Croatian coach said, "Kalyan, you are the one lying not me. Sooner he leaves, Indian football stands a chance. Indian football needs someone powerful and influential. The only time Kalyan is powerful is when he walks with armed guards in Kolkata. Apart from that no one knows him."

This is the latest controversy to grip the ongoing tussle between Stimac and the AIFF, which started from India's elimination in the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Of interest right now will be the response to these allegations from the AIFF, including its president, in the strictest way, Kalyan Chaubey.

"In reality, Kalyan and I never had a relationship and it was quite obvious. I reported to the secretary general. The president doesn't indulge in these things. When Kalyan came and was elected president, our first meeting at the Hyatt lasted for three minutes in which he looked at his watch five times."

Stimac also bashed the firing of Shaji Prabhakaran, who was in command when Stimac's contract was extended till 2026. The 56-year-old further said: "The sacking of Shaji can't be good, if you start a process and start working together and before even a year you have a fight. It is wrong and shows negatively.".

The AIFF has its technical committee, chaired by football great I.M. Vijayan, that takes all football-related decisions, including the appointment and contract of the coach. This doesn't make the technical director fit for the role, for which reason Stimac stated, "IM Vijayan is a great footballer and legend in Indian football, but not the right person to be chairman of a Technical Committee."

Stimac's exit from the Indian football setup, on the other hand, has been really controversial, with his parting shot extracting real deep-seated issues in running and administrating the sport from the top drawn by the AIFF.