On 21 June, Igor Stimac, the former coach of the Indian national team, made harsh criticisms towards the country’s football after being fired. Stimac was dismissed after India failed to qualify for the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. India’s elimination was marked by a controversial defeat to Qatar, where an illegal Qatari goal was allowed by the referee. Intensifying the crisis that resulted in Stimac’s departure.
In a virtual press conference, Stimac made a series of accusations against the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its administrators, claiming that Indian football is “stuck”. In addition, he revealed personal health issues he faced during his time as the Indian national team’s coach.
Stimac’s Controversial Statement
Igor Stimac didn’t mince his words when describing his view of Indian football. As well as pointing out that the country’s football is stuck, he also stated that it will take a few decades for things to improve, which he disbelieves.
Frustrated with the current state of the sport in the country, he mentioned that even if India had qualified, he had already decided to step down due to the lack of proper support. Claiming an existing atmosphere of lies and private interests that surrounds the administration of Indian football. If you’re curious about the future of Indian football and are a bet enthusiast, Bettilt covers great betting and sports markets.
Criticising the AIFF administration
Stimac’s criticism focussed heavily on the AIFF administration, especially President Kalyan Chaubey. Where it was said that the AIFF president takes photos with people in important positions for social media and is heavily focused on popularity. Never having a working relationship with Chaubey, Stimac says that his communication was exclusively with the secretary general.
In addition, saying that people in the AIFF don’t know how to manage football. According to him, the AIFF’s main achievement over the last five years has been to keep him quiet. It is his position that the sooner Kalyan Chaubey leaves, the better chance Indian football will have. Different from 1xbet, which currently already has great odds to offer to sports bettors.
Health issues
A shocking aspect of Stimac’s revelations was his admission that he had to undergo urgent heart surgery due to the stress caused by the situation at the AIFF. When he received his final warning on 2 December, which nobody knew about, together with being disturbed by everything that was going on; stressed by the problems, he ended up in the hospital. Resulting in the need of immediate heart surgery.
He wasn’t ready to talk to anyone or find excuses. He was only ready to sacrifice himself to prepare his team for the Asian Cup and give it his all. You can follow up all the big championships at 22bet live betting sports section.
AIFF’s reply
AIFF reported, that it has come to the notice of the organisation that the former coach of the Indian men’s team, Mr Igor Stimac, has made certain remarks in the media about the functioning of the All India Football Federation and some of its senior officials. According to the federation, AIFF will issue a statement in this regard within the next 48 hours.
Final thoughts
Igor Stimac’s statements raise serious questions about the future of Indian football. His criticisms point to a flawed administration, where power and popularity seem to outweigh the development of the sport. The revelation of his health problems also highlights the level of stress and pressure he faced, suggesting a toxic working environment.
All of these elements could be a turning point for the sport in the country. While the AIFF promises to respond to the accusations, it remains to be seen whether there will be changes in the administration of Indian football. Stimac’s words serve as a wake-up call to the structural and administrative challenges that need to be addressed if Indian football is to thrive.
