The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has responded to former India head coach Igor Stimac’s criticism, though it took longer than the promised 48 hours. In a statement released over 72 hours after Stimac’s remarks, AIFF defended its decision to terminate his contract, alleging that Stimac had misrepresented facts, concealed health information, and faced player complaints.
The reason for Stimac’s termination
AIFF stated, “The decision to terminate Igor Stimac’s contract was made in the interest of the nation and to safeguard our football, players, and stakeholders.” Stimac, however, dismissed the need for further discussion, asserting that FIFA would ultimately decide the matter.
Stimac’s dismissal has led to a series of public exchanges. After being fired, he demanded compensation until June 2026 per his contract, threatening to take the issue to a FIFA platform if not resolved within 10 days. During a press conference, Stimac criticized AIFF and its president Kalyan Chaubey, expressing doubts that any high-profile coach would now take the India job.
AIFF’s statement placed part of the blame on former secretary-general Shaji Prabhakaran and legal head Nilanjan Bhattacharjee, who allegedly did not include a termination clause in Stimac’s 2023 contract. Prabhakaran, who signed the contract for AIFF, is contesting his dismissal in court. The AIFF statement claimed, “Instructions regarding inserting termination clauses favourable to AIFF were not followed.”
Dispute on Stimac’s salary
There was also a dispute over Stimac’s salary, which AIFF claimed was increased to $40,000 per month from February 2025 to June 2026 without core committee approval. Prabhakaran’s email to the core committee and Chaubey in October 2023, however, indicated this increase, contradicting AIFF’s assertion.
Formed in June 2023, the core committee, led by AIFF vice-president NA Harris and Prabhakaran, was intended to oversee administration but has since been disbanded. Notably, AIFF’s statement did not acknowledge that the termination clause was removed in 2022 when Stimac’s contract was renewed for the 2024 Asian Cup, a decision approved by AIFF’s executive committee.
Originally, Stimac’s 2019 contract included a clause allowing AIFF to terminate him with three months’ salary, a provision removed in the 2022 extension at Stimac’s request, according to AIFF officials.
The other issues during Stimac’s tenure
Addressing logistical issues, AIFF admitted to not providing a chartered flight for the team to Abha City, Saudi Arabia, for a World Cup qualifier, but claimed Stimac otherwise received full support. The statement accused Stimac of deflecting blame and noted that players had repeatedly voiced concerns about his coaching style and tactics, though no specific players were named.
The statement also addressed the issue of missing GPS vests used to monitor player health, confirming that the equipment was replaced in May 2024, supporting Stimac’s claim that they had to manage without it for over 200 days.
This dispute between AIFF and Stimac highlights ongoing tensions and administrative challenges within Indian football, with both sides awaiting FIFA’s final verdict.