Igor Stimac - players.bio

India Eye 9th SAFF Championship Title, Face Kuwait In Final

Defending champions India would look to preserve a proud record and add a ninth title to their shelf when they face a tough Kuwait in the SAFF Championship final in Bengaluru on Tuesday. India were stretched to a penalty shootout by Lebanon in the semifinals before winning 4-2, while Kuwait had to wait till extra time to eke out a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh. In fact, this will be the second time India will face Kuwait in the tournament. They had played out a 1-1 draw in an acrimonious Group A match last week.

India Football Coach Igor Stimac Suspended For 2 Games, Fined USD 500 For Red Card Offence In SAFF Championship Game vs Kuwait

India head coach Igor Stimac was on Friday handed a two-match ban for his red-card offence after he argued with the match officials during the home side's 1-1 draw against Kuwait in their last group match of the SAFF Championships football in Bengaluru. Stimac was also fined USD 500 as the SAFF Disciplinary Committee deemed it a fit case for suspending him for more than one match. He was also handed a red card against Pakistan in India's campaign opener on June 21 but in that case the matter was not referred to the SAFF Disciplinary Committee as the offence was deemed "less serious" and he had to sit out of the subsequent match against Nepal on June 24.

Watch: India Football Coach Igor Stimac Shown Red Card Again Following Argument At SAFF Championship

The SAFF Championship clash between India and Kuwait in Bengaluru witnessed several ugly brawls with on Tuesday. India coach Igor Stimac was sent off following argument with the match officials and Kuwait players. That was not all as two players, one each from India and Kuwait, were also sent off due to ugly fouls. This was the second time in the 2023 edition of the SAFF Championship that Stimac was sent off from the ground. Earlier, he was shown a red card during a match against Pakistan. Tuesday's match against Kuwait ended in a 1-1 draw. Both teams are in the semi-finals but India finished second in the points table.

Mohun Bagan Rope In India Midfielder Anirudh Thapa On Five-Year Contract

Indian central midfielder Anirudh Thapa, who played for two-time ISL champions Chennaiyin FC for seven seasons, was on Friday roped in by Mohun Bagan Super Giant on a five-year contract. The 25-year-old, who chose to stay with the Marina Machans rejecting lucrative offers from clubs including Mohun Bagan, finally agreed for a move to the Mariners in a mega deal that is believed to be the biggest ever by an Indian footballer. "Indian team's one of the premier central midfielders Anirudh Thapa will now be seen in Mohun Bagan Super Giant jersey. The club has signed a five-year contract with the Midfield Maestro," the club said, without disclosing the transfer fee which is believed to be in the tune of Rs 3 crore.

Indian Football Team Head Coach Igor Stimac To Serve Just One-Match Ban, To Return At Helm Against Kuwait In SAFF Championships

Head coach Igor Stimac will return to the India dug out in the game against Kuwait on Tuesday after serving one-match ban for his red-card offence against Pakistan in the home side's SAFF Championships opener. South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) General Secretary Anwarul Huq told PTI that Stimac's offence was not serious enough to attract a ban of more than one match and as such it will not be referred to the SAFF Disciplinary Committee for further action. "He (Stimac) will serve a one-match ban, not more than that," he said from Dhaka on Thursday.

SAFF Championship: India Look To Ward Off Nepal Threat And Move Closer To Semifinals

A 4-0 hammering of Pakistan giving them the perfect start, India will have a wonderful opportunity to move closer to the semifinals of the SAFF Championship when they face Nepal in Bengaluru on Saturday. On paper, the hosts hold all the aces, evidenced by an overwhelming 16-2 overall head-to-head record in 23 matches played between them, a sequence that started in the 1985 SAF Games. The last meeting between the two sides came during the 2021 SAFF Championship when India defeated Nepal 3-0.

"Will Do It Again...": India Head Coach Igor Stimac On Getting Sent Off vs Pakistan

The SAFF Championship encounter between arch rivals India and Pakistan saw an adrenaline-fuelled moment at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday. India head coach Igor Stimac was sent off moments before the conclusion of the first-half, with the hosts leading 20, following Sunil Chhetri's brace. Stimac was unhappy about referee Prajwal Chhetri's decision to award Pakistan the throw-in as held that right back Pritam Kotal was fouled in the process. As a result, Stimac chose to interfere when Pakistan player Abdullah Iqbal was ready to make a throw-in.

Watch: Sunil Chhetri Pounces On Pakistan Goalkeeper's Costly Mistake To Begin Goal Rush

On a night when he could become the second-highest Asian goal-scorer in international football, India captain Sunil Chhetri delivered the goods, scoring a hattrick in India's 4-0 win over Pakistan in the SAFF Championship in Bengaluru. Ali Daei of Iran holds the record with 109 goals from 149 matches. Chhetri has 90 goals to his name. Chhetri led the line as India outclassed and hammered their neighbours in front of more than 22,000 fans at Sri Kanteerava Stadium, where he also plays his club football.

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Igor Stimac Sport News

India Eye 9th SAFF Championship Title, Face Kuwait In Final

India Football Coach Igor Stimac Suspended For 2 Games, Fined USD 500 For Red Card Offence In SAFF Championship Game vs Kuwait

Watch: India Football Coach Igor Stimac Shown Red Card Again Following Argument At SAFF Championship

Mohun Bagan Rope In India Midfielder Anirudh Thapa On Five-Year Contract

Indian Football Team Head Coach Igor Stimac To Serve Just One-Match Ban, To Return At Helm Against Kuwait In SAFF Championships

SAFF Championship: India Look To Ward Off Nepal Threat And Move Closer To Semifinals

"Will Do It Again...": India Head Coach Igor Stimac On Getting Sent Off vs Pakistan

Watch: Sunil Chhetri Pounces On Pakistan Goalkeeper's Costly Mistake To Begin Goal Rush