Sacking Igor Stimac May Cost AIFF A Fortune Due to Contractual Obligation

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The All India Football Federation (AIFF) faces a significant financial dilemma if Igor Stimac, the head coach of the Indian national football team, does not resign voluntarily.

The Croatian coach's contract, which extends until June 2026, stipulates a hefty monthly salary of $30,000 (approximately ₹24.6 lakh). This amounts to a substantial financial commitment from the AIFF, totalling around $900,000 (approximately ₹7.38 crore) over the remaining duration of his contract.

In case Stimac is fired before the completion of his contract, AIFF will have to pay the entire salary till the end of his contract. However, it remains unclear whether the federation will be liable to pay the entire amount if Stimac resigns after mutual understanding.

Following India's disappointing second-round exit in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the pressure on the 56-year-old Croat has intensified. The team's performance over the past three months has been underwhelming, culminating in a loss to Afghanistan in Guwahati, a draw against Kuwait in Kolkata, and a defeat to a second-string Qatar team in Doha. These results led to India finishing third in Group A, thereby missing out on qualification for the next round.

Back in March, Stimac had assured that he would resign if India failed to reach the third round of the qualifiers. This came after the Croat promised back in January that However, in a recent post-match press conference after the defeat to Qatar, Stimac appeared to waver on this promise.

"We had an internal discussion in the dressing room and I said to them (players) 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," Stimac told RevSportz after India's defeat to Qatar last night.

The AIFF is now in a difficult position, as the decision on Stimac's future rests with him. According to AIFF technical committee chairperson IM Vijayan, the federation must wait for Stimac's decision, which will have significant financial implications.

"We have to wait and see what he says in the next meeting. He is under contract until 2026, so letting him go will make it an expensive affair. We will have to pay his salary until the end of his contract or until he finds another job. We will also have to get in a new coach and pay his salary too," Vijayan told Sportstar.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Stimac's contract was extended in October against the technical committee's recommendations.

It's important to note that Stimac's salary, like that of many coaches in various sports federations in India, is paid by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). This is a common practice in Indian sports, barring cricket. Despite the financial buffer provided by SAI, the AIFF still faces the challenge of managing contractual obligations and the potential costs associated with bringing in a new coach.