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Bhaichung Bhutia, a legend in Indian football, has resigned from the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) technical committee, citing a blatant disregard for the committee's role in the selection of the new national men's team head coach. This decision comes in the wake of the AIFF executive committee appointing Spaniard Manolo Marquez, currently the manager of FC Goa in the Indian Super League, as the new coach, replacing Croatian Igor Stimac who was dismissed after India failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers third round.
Bhutia, a co-opted member of the executive committee due to his distinguished playing career, attended the meeting where the decision was made. He strongly asserted that the technical committee traditionally plays a crucial role in recommending the national team head coach, a role currently spearheaded by the legendary IM Vijayan. However, Bhutia pointed out that the technical committee was entirely bypassed in the selection process of Marquez, a departure from the usual procedures followed in the past. He cited the appointment of Stephen Constantine in 2013 as an example where the technical committee's recommendation was followed.
Bhutia's frustration stemmed from the complete absence of any consultation or involvement from the technical committee in the selection of Marquez. He stated that the committee was not even convened to discuss potential candidates, shortlist them, or provide their recommendations. This led him to believe that the technical committee, and therefore their expertise, was deemed irrelevant in the decision-making process. As a result, he felt compelled to resign from his position, emphasizing that he could not justify his continued presence on a committee that was effectively ignored.
Bhutia further highlighted the creation of a special committee, led by AIFF vice president N.A. Haris, specifically to find a successor to Stimac. He strongly opposed the formation of this special committee, arguing that the existing technical committee was already equipped to handle the responsibility of recommending a new coach. His statement also touched upon the broader issue of the AIFF's approach to coach appointments, suggesting that the executive committee often makes unilateral decisions without any meaningful input from the technical committee. The president, he claimed, typically proposes a candidate, and the executive committee readily approves it, leaving the technical committee with no real influence on the coaching appointments.
While AIFF acting Secretary General M Satyanarayan maintained that IM Vijayan, the head of the technical committee, was consulted during the process, Bhutia's resignation highlights a growing concern about the lack of transparency and the perceived disregard for the technical expertise within the AIFF. The technical committee, comprised of experienced figures such as Shabir Ali, Climax Lawrence, Victor Amalraj, and Santosh Singh, now faces a challenging situation where their input appears to be minimized in critical decisions related to the future of Indian football.
Source: Bhaichung Bhutia to resign from technical panel over AIFF's coach hiring process