Kolkata: The manner in which Igor Stimac was sacked has not only evoked a strong reaction from him but also ruffled feathers of people within the All India Football Federation.
The Croat was fired from the men’s national team’s head coach job on Monday with members of a special committee deciding that he be offered three months of salary as compensation to mutually part ways.
Stimac has volleyed back the offer with a demand of being paid the entire amount of his salary till June 2025 within 10 days, failing which he will take AIFF to a FIFA tribunal that deals with disputes over “unilateral” termination of contracts.
If it goes the legal way and should the AIFF fail to convince the independent tribunal of Stimac breaching terms of his agreement, then it could face a scenario of paying a little over Rs 4 crore to the 56-year-old coach, whose contract says that from February 2024 to January 2025 he would get $30,000/month (around Rs 25 lakh). Had India qualified to the third round, his salary would have jumped to $40,000/month (approximately Rs 33.50 lakh) from Feb 2025 to June 2026.
It has left many within the AIFF wondering if the entire episode could have been handled in a different manner and how Stimac was removed without the approval of its executive committee, which had hired him in the first place and is the highest decision-making panel of the federation.
All members of the technical committee too were not consulted with many pointing out that the panel that decided to terminate the contract isn’t authorised by the federation’s constitution to do so.
While the AIFF constitution empowers the president to constitute committees, the federation hasn’t benefitted from insistence on forming them at every opportunity instead of addressing issues head-on.
AIFF terminates the services of Head Coach Igor Stimac!
Read more details here 👉🏻 https://t.co/oHZpY9tr7T#IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/fupnL5UrVS
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 17, 2024
Violation?
Formed in April to look at possible ways of relieving Stimac after India’s hopes of advancing to the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers took a big hit with a loss to Afghanistan in March, the special committee has six members, all of whom are in the executive committee too. Two of them – former internationals IM Vijayan and Climax Lawrence – are also part of the technical committee.
President Kalyan Chaubey wasn’t part of it though he was aware of developments. Those who are not present in either the Ex Co or the technical committee weren’t consulted before taking the big step.
“Such an important decision should have been placed for the executive committee after seeking recommendation from the technical committee,” observed an executive committee member who was not part of the group of officials that decided to fire Stimac.
“The committee that took the decision has no legal standing and is not armed as per the AIFF constitution to make such a vital call, particularly when it is trying to fight off cash woes.”
Ex Co members are also upset to not have been taken into confidence while advertising on Wednesday to find Stimac’s successor for which the AIFF would consider candidates with 10-15 years of elite coaching experience, having a minimum AFC/UEFA Pro license with preference for those with experience of handling teams in World Cup/continental qualifiers.
Even before Stimac was shown the door, the technical committee’s chairperson needlessly jumped the gun to say he was in favour of an Indian coach to take over, even naming three potential candidates, ironically, none of them being eligible as per the criteria set.
📢 We’re Hiring
AIFF seeks an experienced Head Coach for the India Senior Men’s/U23 National Team.
For more details, visit:https://t.co/eIuZ5IvpDK#IndianFootball⚽️ #BlueTigers #WeAreHiring pic.twitter.com/znBdtQ8wdV
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 19, 2024
“The entire country wanted Stimac gone, so the AIFF has done it, never mind whichever way it has been done,” AIFF’s acting general secretary M Satyanarayan told News9 Sports.
“The same members of the special committee spoke to him in April when Stimac first spoke of his intention to leave. We wanted the same committee to speak to him again before arriving at a decision.
“When a new person will be appointed as Stimac’s successor, the matter will be placed before the executive committee for ratification.”
Damage of reputation
In his reply to the letter of termination, Stimac has raised multiples instances of failed promises and breach of contracts by the AIFF as reasons for India’s doomed campaigns in AFC Asian Cup in January and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Having declared his intention to leave should India fail to qualify for the third round, he demanded the entire AIFF panel to quit with him, owning responsibility for on-field disasters.
Else on grounds of unilateral termination of contract without “just cause” that is “unprofessional” and “unethical”, Stimac has said he would file a lawsuit in FIFA tribunal.
Satyanarayan said the AIFF would consult its legal team and take some time before responding to Stimac as it braces for a legal battle.
The AIFF and sacked India head coach Igor Stimac are at loggerheads over the manner and terms and conditions of termination of contract. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
