Ex AIFF Media Head Hits Out at President Kalyan Chaubey, Accuses Him of Corruption and Running Indian Football Like a 'Grocery Shop'

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Indian Football: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been rocked by allegations of financial mismanagement and employee mistreatment, as former media head Jaydeep Basu has spoken out about the organization's internal issues.

Basu, who was recently terminated from his position, has accused AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey and Secretary General Anilkumar Prabhakaran of gross financial irregularities and unfair treatment of employees and running the AIFF as a 'grocery shop', which he even pointed that out in his letter to the Executive Committee in March.

AIFF's Alleged Financial Mismanagement

Basu revealed on the Chakde Football YouTube channel that the AIFF funds are being treated as personal assets by its top officials. He highlighted that despite AIFF's frequent claims of financial constraints, the organization has made several questionable expenditures:

Extravagant Legal Expenses: AIFF has reportedly spent between ₹10 to ₹11 lakh per hearing on legal proceedings that have little bearing on Indian football's progress.

Luxury Purchases: Despite claiming a lack of funds, AIFF allegedly purchased a high-end hybrid SUV worth ₹33-37 lakh, which was unnecessary given the office's proximity to residential facilities.

Unjustified Rentals: A senior official staying just 500 meters from the AIFF office reportedly rents an SUV daily for commuting.

Basu argued that these expenses contradict AIFF's claims of financial difficulty, especially when employees are being denied rightful appraisals and increments.

Employee Exploitation and Salary Disputes

One of the most damning revelations made by Basu is the alleged exploitation of AIFF employees. He detailed how the annual staff appraisals and salary increments for the 2024-25 fiscal year were arbitrarily withheld. A two-member committee had initially been formed to oversee appraisals, but after Anilkumar Prabhakaran took charge as Secretary General in August 2024, he unilaterally stalled the process and was given after a period of 15 months.

Key allegations regarding employee treatment include:

Delayed and Incomplete Appraisals: Staff members were initially promised retrospective increments from August 2024, but this was later pushed to January 2025, effectively denying them five months' worth of pay increases.

Biased Salary Hikes: A handful of individuals reportedly received double promotions and exceptional raises, while 90% of employees saw minimal to no increments.

Overworked and Underappreciated Staff: AIFF employees, especially in the media department, worked grueling 12-hour shifts covering 83 matches in December 2024 alone, yet their contributions were largely ignored.

Basu's Termination and Fallout

Basu believes his termination was a direct consequence of his advocacy for fair employee treatment. After voicing his concerns internally and escalating the issue to AIFF's Finance Committee, he was abruptly dismissed. AIFF framed his termination as a response to his "over-demand" for salary, a claim he strongly denies.

In his scathing criticism, Basu stated: "Those who cannot keep 65 people happy, do you think they will make Indian football better?" He further alleged that AIFF has been reduced to a mere "grocery shop," with Chaubey and Prabhakaran prioritizing their own interests over the sport's development.

AIF's Declining Reputation and the Road Ahead

The allegations by Basu raise serious concerns about the governance and financial transparency within AIFF. If the claims of financial mismanagement, favoritism, and employee exploitation hold true, it could significantly impact Indian football's growth and credibility on the global stage.

With AIFF's integrity under question, stakeholders, including FIFA and the Ministry of Sports, may need to intervene to restore order and accountability. For now, Indian football fans and professionals alike are left wondering whether AIFF's leadership is truly committed to the sport-or merely to their own gain.