PANAJI
Following his sacking as the head coach of the Indian football team by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Igor Stimac has accused the country's football governing body of terminating his contract "without just cause" and failing to settle his dues.
Stimac, who was relieved of his duties in the wake of India's exit from the World Cup qualifiers, called the manner of his dismissal "blatantly unprofessional and unethical" in an email addressed to M Satyanarayan, the acting general secretary of the AIFF.
In his email, Stimac warned the AIFF of legal action if his dues were not settled within 10 days. He stated: "I kindly ask you to immediately, but not later than the next ten days, organize payment for the termination of the contract without just cause in the amount representing the residual value of my employment contract. Otherwise, I will start proceedings against AIFF in front of the competent FIFA Football Tribunal and sue AIFF."
His contract, extended until 2026, reportedly lacks a severance clause, potentially entitling him to the full remaining value, estimated at Rs 6 crore.
Highlighting a series of grievances accumulated during his tenure, Stimac alleged negligence on the part of AIFF leadership. He cited issues ranging from logistical failures affecting player travel to delays in providing essential equipment like GPS devices. Stimac also accused AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey of breaching agreements and failing to fulfil promises crucial for team preparation.
