Former India head coach Igor Stimac held an open press conference on 21st June, 2024, speaking for the first time after his contract with the AIFF was terminated. The Croatian spent five years in charge of the men’s national team before being relieved of his duties last week.
The AIFF has officially acknowledged the comments made by Stimac, and have promised an official response within the next 48 hours.
The highlights from Igor Stimac’s open press conference after contract termination
Comments against AIFF and it’s senior officials
“The people in AIFF don’t know how to run a football house, they don’t know how to organise cups. These people only care about power,” Stimac said.
Igor Stimac feels that AIFF doesn't have the required know-how to run football in India. 🗣️#IndianFootball #IgorStimac #AIFF pic.twitter.com/RbdWf0Rkmg
— IFTWC – Indian Football (@IFTWC) June 21, 2024
“The people in Football House run it only thinking what social media will think? There’s no other objective for those people. Not the way to run an institution.”
“It was impossible for me to continue without ample support, I was fed with full of lies and surrounded by people who have their private interests.”
“We agreed with FSDL for a mutual calendar before WCQ and Asian Cup. New people in AIFF decided to go ahead with Kings Cup and other games without discussing with me. FSDL couldn’t do anything and so could I,” he added.
“I had informed my lawyer to prepare a resignation letter last year, while it was in process I received a call from AIFF saying my extension will happen. And then later was informed that Shaji will takeover my extension talks and it happened – I was surprised.”
“IM Vijayan is a great footballer and legend in Indian Football but not the right person to be chairman of a Technical Committee.”
Verbal assault on AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey
Igor Stimac 🗣️ : “Kalyan you are the one lying not me. Sooner he LEAVES, Indian Football stands a chance.” #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/8HWKtAjhl0
— 90ndstoppage (@90ndstoppage) June 21, 2024
“Kalyan you are the one lying not me. Sooner he LEAVES, Indian Football stands a chance,” he said.
“Kalyan only cares about being popular – recent media meets shows that. You say he is a politician, No one knows him even in Kolkata. We need someone strong and with backing to lead us.”
“Me and Kalyan never had a relationship, it was obvious. I reported to the secretary-general. The president doesn’t indulge in these things.”
“President of the AIFF gets pictures clicked with people in important position just for social media attention. He is now on a spree giving bytes to several influencers,” Stimac finished.
Heart surgery while in charge of men’s national team
“Last December I endee up at the hospital, not really many are aware about this, with all the pressure and things going on I had to undergo a heart surgery. I still chose to go and defend the country despite not being an Indian.”
Igor Stimac 🗣️ : “In December last I finished ending up at Hospital not really many are aware about this, with all the pressure and things going on I had to undergo a heart surgery. I still chose to go and defend the country despite not being an Indian.” #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/mwXMr8kJ48
— 90ndstoppage (@90ndstoppage) June 21, 2024
“After my heart surgery – I had to have someone as backup for me and helping, that’s why I brought Trevor Sinclair. If something had happened to me, wanted a cover,” the 56-year-old revealed.
On why he didn’t attend any ISL matches
“I used to attend matches initially, and then I noticed I was just burdening the budget of federation. I was also not in a place where I can do my job,” Stimac said.
“Whoever accepts and travels to games is mostly doing for being popular. We can’t really do our job there, better we sit and do it on a platform where you can watch it closely and analyse.”
On the future of Indian football
“We were working without any equipment, not even platforms like Wyscout and Instat. Throughout, we were renting match analyst from Goa. We were stealing scouting platforms from (FC) Goa. That’s how we operated, and nobody knows this.”
— Marcus Mergulhao (@MarcusMergulhao) June 21, 2024
— Igor Stimac https://t.co/N8S4RGytio
“I came here with open arms but your football is imprisoned.”
“Without having PIO/OCI, football development in India is going to be difficult.”
“If we were not robbed in Kings Cup, against Malaysia in Merdeka and finally against Qatar – our team could have been still in top-100 and advanced to Round 3.”
“It is absurd that the top-tier league in a nation is run by corporates and not the federation itself, AIFF should be organising it and not FSDL,” Stimac said.
“(There is a) Possibility for football to rise without hurting any other sport, yet some cricket people have managed to hinder its development. Decision makers are protecting something. ISL-FSDL need to take a decision.”
Stimac is now awaiting payment for the last two years of his contract from the AIFF, after it was terminated without just cause, as per the strongly worded email from his side. The poor performance in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 and failing to qualify for Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers sealed the coach’s fate.
It’s interesting to note that he offered to leave his post as the head coach with minimal compensation if “others also took responsibility,” suggesting that the senior officials are also to blame. However, given that the AIFF has exercised the option to terminate his contract, the situation has become very complicated and tense.
The AIFF is now inviting applications for the post, and are preparing a response to the rant from their former head coach.
Which major trophies did Igor Stimac win with India?
Two SAFF Championships
