PANAJI
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has responded to comments made by former national team coach Igor Stimac, accusing him of attempting to tarnish the organization’s reputation. The AIFF emphasized that Stimac’s behavior is not fitting for a professional who served for over five years with their full support.
The AIFF leadership, which took office in September 2022, noted that Stimac had already been with the team for over three years by then. In October 2023, the AIFF’s Core Committee proposed a two-year contract extension for Stimac with a salary increase from $25,000 to $30,000 per month starting January 2024. The contract also included a further raise to $40,000 per month from February 2025 to January 2026, although this was done without Core Committee approval. Importantly, the AIFF’s directive to include favorable termination clauses in the contract was not fully adhered to.
Despite these issues, the AIFF claims they provided complete support to Stimac, holding five in-person meetings and numerous virtual and telephonic conversations. They allowed him full autonomy in decisions regarding venues, support staff, and travel arrangements. The AIFF also coordinated with clubs to release players beyond the FIFA window for extended preparation periods.
One of Stimac’s major complaints was the unavailability of GPS vests for training. The AIFF clarified that the team’s GPS equipment was lost during transit in September 2023. Despite efforts to recover the lost equipment, it was ultimately replaced, and new devices were made available by March 2024. The AIFF contends that the team only lacked GPS vests for about 50 days, not the 200 days claimed by Stimac.
The AIFF also addressed Stimac’s reliance on an astrologer for player selections and tactics, which they promptly put an end to. Additionally, they noted that many players were unhappy with Stimac’s coaching style and had voiced their concerns.
The federation highlighted an incident at the 3rd AFC National Coaches Conference in May 2024, where Stimac allegedly misrepresented the number of support staff he had, claiming he only had four instead of the actual 13 to 16. This statement, according to the AIFF, was made to gain sympathy and at the expense of the federation’s reputation.
The AIFF maintains that their decision to terminate Stimac’s contract was justified and in the best interest of Indian football.
