In a fiery virtual press conference on Friday, former Indian football coach Igor Stimac openly criticized the All India Football Federation (AIFF), accusing the organization of poor management and selfish motives that he believes have stunted the growth of Indian football.

Stimac’s outspoken comments follow the termination of his contract by the AIFF after a series of poor results. He expressed deep disappointment and frustration over the federation’s decision-making processes and their impact on the sport in India.

“I love this country and I came here with open arms. But Indian football is imprisoned and it is imprisoned by AIFF,” Stimac stated, lamenting the federation’s focus on image over substance. He described AIFF’s approach as characterized by “poor decision making, big and empty words,” which, he claims, have harmed the sport.

Criticisms of Poor Management

Stimac accused the AIFF of making unilateral decisions without consulting him, despite his role as head coach. He highlighted instances such as the acceptance of international matches for the national team, including the King’s Cup and Merdeka Cup, which he believes negatively affected the team’s performance.

“The president and federation accepted International matches for the senior team without ever consulting me. Not even a phone call was made to me,” Stimac revealed.

He also criticized the federation’s interference in team selection for the Asian Games 2023 in China, where senior players were added to his squad without his approval. “When the participation for Asian Games was finalized, I sent a list full of youngsters and it was appreciated by ISL coaches too. But President Kalyan Chaubey and AIFF convinced Sports Authority of India (SAI) to add the senior players to the team,” he said.

Accusations of Empty Promises

Stimac didn’t hold back when discussing the promises made by the new AIFF management. He alleged that commitments such as providing chartered flights for World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ) and crucial GPS vests for player training were never fulfilled, branding them as mere “positive PR exercises.”

India was the only team participating in the 2023 Asian Cup without GPS vests, essential for tracking players’ movements. Stimac offered to purchase them himself but was assured AIFF would handle it, a promise he claims was never kept.

Lack of Resources

The former coach further criticized the lack of resources provided for match analytics, revealing that they had to rent analysts and platforms from Goa FC. “Throughout we were renting match analysts from Goa…we were stealing the platforms from Goa FC, that’s how we were working,” he stated.

Stimac concluded by suggesting that the AIFF’s administrators prioritize their interests over the development of Indian football, leading to the sport’s stagnation.

While Stimac’s comments have sparked controversy, they resonate with many Indian football fans who have long recognized these issues. His statements, though currently one-sided, shed light on the alleged wrongdoings and incompetency within the AIFF, further fueling the ongoing debate about the future of Indian football.

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