"I came here with open arms, but your football is imprisoned" - Igor Stimac's scathing critique of Indian football's current state
Former Indian head coach Igor Stimac, recently dismissed from his position, has heavily criticized the current state of Indian football, highlighting issues within the country’s football ecosystem and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
After his sacking on Monday, June 17, Stimac condemned the departure as blatantly unprofessional. On Thursday, he called upon the media to “open the cards” about the state of Indian football and the circumstances of his dismissal.
In a stunning revelation, the Croatian accused the AIFF of feeding him lies and claimed he received no support from the federation.
Speaking to the media on Friday, he said:
" I never asked anything for myself - it was always for the team. In my career, I’ve not been sacked till now. This was the first time. And it was wrongly so - in my reply to AIFF, I’ve done the same."
"I came here with open arms, but your football is imprisoned. 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."
In his response to the AIFF's decision, Igor Stimac threatened legal action if his payment was not settled within 10 days. He also criticized the federation for poor travel logistics, delays in providing GPS equipment, and ignoring agreements regarding his contract extensions from October 2023.
Stimac further asserted that the AIFF lacks interest in developing Indian football. But despite these behind-the-scenes issues, he emphasized that he still maintains a strong relationship with the players.
"The people in the football house run it only thinking what social media will think. There’s no other objective for those people. This is not the way to run an institution. I sent a farewell message to my players and the response I received was an overwhelming response. I can read it for you, but I won’t because I’ll start crying again. It’s emotional."
"Without having PIO/OCI, football development in India is going to be difficult" - Igor Stimac
Stimac was notably outspoken when asked about how Indian football can improve the quality of its domestic league. He criticized Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), who operate the Indian Super League, arguing that the lack of competition among ISL clubs is posing a problem for Indian football.
He also mentioned that India’s rankings would only improve if Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) could play for the country, a move currently hindered by laws prohibiting dual citizenship.
“It is absurd that the top-tier league in a nation is run by corporates and not the federation itself. AIFF should be organizing it and not FSDL. The deal between FSDL and AIFF is dubious. There needs to be a public tender for such deals. We also don’t have relegation, and without it, there is no competition in the league."
“Without having PIO/OCI, football development in India is going to be difficult. It’ll take at least two decades for developing world class players," he added.
The 55-year-old also disclosed that he had to undergo heart surgery before the AFC Asian Cup, which caused him considerable stress to manage to the Blue Tigers.
"In December last I finished ending up at the hospital and not many are aware of 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. 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," Stimac added.
During his press conference, Igor Stimac was quite vocal, reopening the wounds about the AIFF and the reasons behind the stagnation of Indian football. It remains to be seen how the federation will respond to his statements, but for now, the search for a new head coach is underway.