The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has reached a settlement with former men’s national team coach Igor Stimac, agreeing to pay him USD 400,000 (approximately Rs 3.36 crore) after tax as compensation for his termination. This agreement comes after months of disagreement, with Stimac initially demanding a much larger sum.
Stimac was dismissed from his role in June 2023, a year before his contract was set to expire. The decision came after the team’s disappointing performance in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, where they were eliminated in the second round despite a relatively easy draw. This led to a bitter exchange between Stimac and the AIFF, with the Croat threatening legal action if his dues were not settled within 10 days.
The AIFF had initially offered Stimac three months’ salary as compensation, but he rejected this offer and pursued his claim through FIFA, demanding USD 920,000 (approximately Rs 7.72 crore) for two years’ salary. This substantial amount raised eyebrows given the federation’s recent financial struggles.
However, a compromise was eventually reached, with the AIFF ultimately agreeing to pay Stimac a significant sum to settle the matter. Stimac’s appointment in 2019 had initially been seen as a positive step for Indian football. He was given a contract extension until 2026, but the extension was conditional on the team qualifying for the Asian Cup quarterfinals, a feat never achieved by India.
The agreement marks a closure to a tense period for Indian football. It remains to be seen how the AIFF will navigate future coach appointments and how the team will perform under new coach Manolo Marquez.
