GUWAHATI: The sacking of Igor Stimac as the head coach of India’s men’s national football team has caused a significant uproar. The Croatian coach was fired on Monday, with a special committee offering him three months' salary as compensation for a mutual parting. However, Stimac has rejected this offer, demanding his full salary through June 2025 within 10 days, or he will take the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to a FIFA tribunal for unilateral contract termination.
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If the matter proceeds legally and AIFF fails to prove Stimac breached his contract, the federation could be liable to pay over ₹4 crore to the 56-year-old coach, as per reports. His contract reportedly specifies a monthly salary of $30,000 (about ₹25 lakh) from February 2024 to January 2025, which would have increased to $40,000 (approximately ₹33.50 lakh) from February 2025 to June 2026 had India qualified for the third round.
The manner of Stimac's removal has raised concerns within the AIFF. Many are questioning why the decision was made without the executive committee's approval, which had initially hired Stimac and is the federation’s highest decision-making body. The technical committee was also reportedly not fully consulted, and the special committee that decided to terminate Stimac's contract is said to lack the constitutional authority to do so.
The special committee, formed in April to explore ways to relieve Stimac after India’s World Cup qualifying loss to Afghanistan in March, comprised six executive committee members, including former internationals IM Vijayan and Climax Lawrence, who also sit on the technical committee. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey was aware of the developments but was not part of the special committee.
Executive committee members were further upset by the advertisement placed on June 19 to find Stimac’s successor, seeking candidates with 10-15 years of elite coaching experience, an AFC/UEFA Pro license, and experience in World Cup or continental qualifiers. This move was reportedly made without consulting all relevant parties, and before Stimac's dismissal, the technical committee’s chairperson had prematurely suggested appointing an Indian coach, naming three candidates who did not meet the set criteria.
In response to his termination, Stimac reportedly cited numerous instances of the AIFF's failed promises and contract breaches as contributing factors to India’s poor performance in the AFC Asian Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He has demanded that the entire AIFF panel resign with him if India fails to qualify for the third round, holding them accountable for the on-field failures. Failing that, he plans to file a lawsuit in the FIFA tribunal for what he describes as "unprofessional" and "unethical" contract termination, as per reports.
According to reports, AIFF General Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran has stated that the federation would consult its legal team and take time to respond to Stimac’s demands, preparing for a potential legal battle.
