NEW DELHI: There’s a growing sense of frustration within the sports ministry and Sports Authority of India (SAI) over national football team’s head coach Igor Stimac’s coaching methods and All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) uninspiring long-term vision.
The unease has grown after Sunil Chettri-led side’s morale-crushing defeat against Afghanistan in FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC Qualifiers earlier this week. Spending crores on the Indian football team’s national camps, exposure trips abroad and international assignments as part of the Annual Competition and Training Calendar (ACTC), the country’s sports administrators have run out of patience following the national side’s poor performances over the last one year and Stimac’s lame excuses after every embarrassing defeat.
