In New Delhi, the All India Football Federation said on Friday it will respond to ousted national coach Igor Stimac's scathing attack on some of its senior officials in the next 48 hours, after the Croatian blamed AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey for for the problems that afflict sports in the country.
Stimac was fired as head coach on Monday after the team failed to reach the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifying. A day later, he also threatened to file a case against the AIFF before the FIFA Tribunal if his outstanding dues were not cleared within 10 days.
The AIFF, in a statement issued after Stimac's press conference on Friday, said: "It has come to our attention that the former head coach of the Indian men's team, Mr. Igor Stimac, has made certain comments in the media related to the functioning of the Indian Football Federation and some of its senior officials will issue a statement in this regard in the next 48 hours.
In his long online press conference, Stimac stated that Indian football is "imprisoned" and blamed Chaubey for the situation. Stimac also said he was "fed up with the lies and broken promises" during his tenure.
"The sooner Kalyan Chaubey leaves the AIFF, the better it will be for Indian football," Stimac said.
Stimac was appointed head coach following the departure of his predecessor Stephen Constantine in March 2019. But Stimac's tenure ended after India suffered a defeat against Qatar in the final second round match of the World Cup qualifiers at early this month.
"Kalyan only cares about being popular; recent media meetings prove it. You say he is a politician, no one knows him even in Calcutta. We need someone strong, influential and supported to lead Indian football," Stimac said. .
"Kalyan's priority is to increase social media clicks and take pictures with famous players rather than thinking about the welfare of Indian football.
"Football is the most popular sport in the world, but India is the only place where it is not growing," he added.
Stimac was fired as head coach on Monday after the team failed to reach the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifying. A day later, he also threatened to file a case against the AIFF before the FIFA Tribunal if his outstanding dues were not cleared within 10 days.
The AIFF, in a statement issued after Stimac's press conference on Friday, said: "It has come to our attention that the former head coach of the Indian men's team, Mr. Igor Stimac, has made certain comments in the media related to the functioning of the Indian Football Federation and some of its senior officials will issue a statement in this regard in the next 48 hours.
In his long online press conference, Stimac stated that Indian football is "imprisoned" and blamed Chaubey for the situation. Stimac also said he was "fed up with the lies and broken promises" during his tenure.
"The sooner Kalyan Chaubey leaves the AIFF, the better it will be for Indian football," Stimac said.
Stimac was appointed head coach following the departure of his predecessor Stephen Constantine in March 2019. But Stimac's tenure ended after India suffered a defeat against Qatar in the final second round match of the World Cup qualifiers at early this month.
"Kalyan only cares about being popular; recent media meetings prove it. You say he is a politician, no one knows him even in Calcutta. We need someone strong, influential and supported to lead Indian football," Stimac said. .
"Kalyan's priority is to increase social media clicks and take pictures with famous players rather than thinking about the welfare of Indian football.
"Football is the most popular sport in the world, but India is the only place where it is not growing," he added.
