Igor Stimac Likely To Remain Head Coach Despite India's Shocking Loss To Afghanistan: Sources

The top brass of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is inclined to heed to the recommendation of its technical committee to remove national men's team head coach Igor Stimac but contractual issues may make it difficult to do so, PTI has learnt. Also given the fact that India's next World Cup qualifiers round 2 match is slated for June 6 against Kuwait in Kolkata, changing the man at the helm at this point in time may not be a good idea, according to AIFF sources.

"Under the circumstances, he (Stimac) is likely to be in charge of the team in the next two matches in June," a source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

India will have to get a favourable result against Kuwait if they want to make it to the World Cup qualifiers round 3 for the first time.

After that, the Blue Tigers face reigning Asian champions Qatar on June 11 in an away match.

It is also learnt that the I M Vijayan-led technical committee wondered "how Stimac can continue (as head coach)" after the shocking 1-2 defeat to the depleted Afghanistan side in Guwahati on March 26.

India's away match against the Afghans in Abha, Saudi Arabia, ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

Stimac was first appointed head coach in 2019 for a two-year tenure. In October 2022, his contract was extended till January 2024 (when the AFC Asian Cup was held). But, in October 2023, the AIFF again extended his contract till June 2026, following India's fine show in the World Cup qualifiers round 1 and the SAFF Championships.

Sources in the AIFF said that the initial contract had a severance clause (9.1) which provides for three months' notice period. But the latest contract (signed in October 2023) does not have this clause, and this has created problems for the AIFF as far as sacking