Igor Stimac U-Turn on Resignation After Defeat to Qatar, Says Will Take Decision After Speaking to AIFF

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Igor Stimac, the head coach of the Indian football team, has come under intense scrutiny after failing to step down from his role despite previously promising to resign if he could not lead India to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Back in March, before India's crucial match against Afghanistan, Stimac vowed to take India to this milestone, a feat never achieved before by the team. He stated unequivocally, "If I don't take India to the third round I will leave, with my pride, with my honour on everything that was done here in the five years of work. I will leave my position to someone else."

However, following a 2-1 defeat to Qatar's U23 team, which dashed India's qualification hopes, Stimac did not follow through on his promise yet.

After the crucial loss to Qatar, Stimac's commitment to his previous statement appeared to wane. He told RevSportz, "We had an internal discussion in the dressing room and I said to them I will discuss all the possibilities with the people in the federation -- AIFF -- and see how they see the situation and then I will decide what to do."

He also expressed his frustration over a controversial equaliser scored by Qatar, which many fans perceived as an unjust decision. "I think it's a shame to be eliminated in such a way after playing such good football, controlling the game, and dominating Qatar," he said.

The controversy over Qatar's equaliser added to the sense of injustice among Indian football supporters, who already felt aggrieved by the team's overall performance under Stimac's leadership.

Despite the controversial call, the broader issue remains the team's consistent underperformance throughout the year. India's inability to advance past the group stages of the AFC Asian Cup in January set a negative tone for the rest of the season.

Stimac's tenure has been characterised by inconsistent results and unmet expectations, leading to widespread calls for his resignation. Fans and analysts alike have questioned his tactical decisions. As the national team now faces a critical juncture, the focus shifts to whether Stimac will finally honour his word and step down, or if he will continue to lead the struggling squad amidst growing dissatisfaction.

The upcoming decisions by the All India football federation (AIFF) and Stimac himself will be crucial in determining the future direction of the team.