There’s no denying it anymore — Indian football is in complete disarray. For years, fans have grown accustomed to the national team hovering around triple digits in the FIFA rankings. But the sport has now hit a new low, driven not just by poor performances, but also by corruption allegations, chaotic governance and, most recently, a bitter public spat between a legendary ex-captain and the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Baichung Bhutia, arguably Indian football’s most iconic figure until Sunil Chhetri took up the mantle, didn’t pull any punches in a media interaction on Friday. Branding the AIFF a “circus”, Bhutia launched a scathing personal attack on federation president Kalyan Chaubey. Without naming him directly, Bhutia said: “When you put jokers in those positions, it’s bound to become a circus.”
The man once known as the ‘Sikkimese Sniper’ didn’t stop there. He questioned Chaubey’s credentials, implying the former goalkeeper never actually played a full international game and was often just a benchwarmer. The underlying question: is Bhutia simply bitter over his 33-1 defeat to Chaubey in the 2022 AIFF presidential elections, where Chaubey was widely believed to have the backing of the central government?
As a member of the AIFF Executive Committee, Mr Bhutia has access to appropriate and empowered platforms to express his views. However, since his defeat in September 2022, he has consistently and deliberately made baseless allegations and presented a distorted image of the AIFF. These actions tarnish the federation’s reputation and Indian football internationally.
Chaubey also extended an invitation to Bhutia to attend the next AIFF Executive Committee meeting on 2 July.
Regardless of where one’s sympathies lie, one thing is clear: public confidence in the AIFF is at an all-time low. The national team’s downward spiral has only worsened the mood. After failing to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup following a shock 1-0 defeat to Hong Kong, India finds itself without a head coach. Manolo Marquez, who had been juggling responsibilities between FC Goa and the national side, has opted to remain with the club.
We should have sat with Marquez and asked him to choose — either FC Goa or India. Or wait for six months. But there was no plan, no meeting of the technical committee. All they wanted was to save money after the hefty compensation they had to pay Igor Stimac.
The problems don’t end there. Allegations of financial misappropriation, including Bhutia’s claim that Chaubey used an AIFF-issued credit card for personal expenses, have re-emerged. There’s also been confusion over the I-League title, and growing uncertainty over the future of the Indian Super League (ISL).
Bhutia also revisited the AIFF’s surprise withdrawal from the race to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, ceding the opportunity to Saudi Arabia unchallenged.
Why did we suddenly withdraw our bid and agree to host the Santosh Trophy in Saudi Arabia instead? This has to be investigated by someone neutral.
Ironically, the AIFF has now expressed interest in bidding for the 2031 edition. Bhutia was unimpressed: “When we had the best chance, we gave it away. Now we’re looking at 2031 where seven countries, including World Cup-qualified Uzbekistan, are interested. It makes no sense.”
It’s difficult to refute Bhutia’s concerns. But in the current atmosphere of silence, indifference, and disillusionment — the more pressing question is: who’s listening?
