Former India head coach Igor Stimac has taken legal action against the All India Football Federation (AIFF). He seeks compensation for what he claims is a breach of contract following his dismissal in June 2023.
Stimac had a contract with AIFF until June 2026. He has filed his case with FIFA, marking the first time a former India football team coach has challenged their dismissal.
The legal documents were submitted to FIFA’s legal portal on Sunday. The case is likely to be handled by the FIFA Football Tribunal’s Players’ Status Chamber (PSC). The agency deals with employment-related disputes between national associations and coaches.
Stimac’s attorney, Davor Radic, explained that their claim is based on the AIFF’s termination of Stimac’s contract without cause. The AIFF offered the compensation of three months’ salary. Yet, it was not accepoted by Stimac. As a result, it lead to the escalation to the FIFA level.
“The case is straightforward. I am confident about the final verdict,” Stimac said, expressing his trust in the legal process. His lawyer stated that their position is clear: the termination was unjust. He also said they expect fair compensation as per the contract terms.
Stimac’s contract, signed in 2019 and extended in 2022 and 2023, was supposed to keep him as India’s head coach until June 2026. He was paid $30,000 monthly until January 2025, increasing to $40,000 afterward. If FIFA rules in Stimac’s favor, AIFF could be liable for nearly ₹7.5 crore, with the potential for additional interest if payments are delayed.
The AIFF has yet to respond to the filing. Acting Secretary-General Satyanarayan Muthyalu, who was in charge until P Anilkumar took over on Monday, stated that FIFA or Stimac had not officially notified the federation about the case.
Stimac’s tenure as India’s head coach, which began in May 2019, had its share of highs and lows. The Croatian’s most notable achievement was leading India to a 0-0 draw against Asian champions Qatar in an away match. That was a significant result given Qatar’s dominance at the time. Under Stimac, India won three tournaments on home soil in 2023. One of them was the SAFF Championship, where they bested Kuwait and Lebanon.
India qualified for the 2024 Asian Cup finals and reached a FIFA ranking of 99, their highest in recent years. Yet, a poor showing at the Asian Cup, coupled with disappointing results in World Cup qualifiers—including a draw and a loss to Afghanistan, then ranked 158th—led to a decline in rankings. Ultimately, it contributed to Stimac’s dismissal. The final blow came after a draw against Kuwait and a defeat to Qatar. Those results dashed India’s hopes getting into the third round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time.
In the wake of Stimac’s departure, AIFF appointed FC Goa coach Manolo Marquez as the new head coach of the national team. While Stimac’s case against AIFF proceeds, it has been reported that his Croatian assistants, Luka Radman, and Frano Srdarev, may agree to a compensation of six months’ salary. In this case, they have chosen it instead of pursuing further legal action.
