AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey exploded Bachung Bhutia: ‘If there was any corruption …’. Football news
AIFF President Kalyan Choubey has strongly hit former India captain Bhichung Bhutia, accusing him of misleading football families through a series of commercial academies, rejecting Bhutia’s call for his resignation.Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on Friday, Choubey defended his leadership and came out in Bhutia, who recently demanded the AIFF President to take a step for “Indian Football for”. Bhutia had earlier accused the federation of mismanagement and corruption.“He (Bhutia) is one of the best strikers in India, but he runs a football school series in his name with about 20 centers across the country. They (Bhichung Bhutia Football School) are taking unfair advantage by playing with the sentiments of the families, taking unfair advantage of people, who are thinking that man has achieved the highest level of Indian football, and if I am also my life. He has promised the families of Indian football dreamers, and this is the result we have seen, ”Choubey said. He said that Bhichung Bhutia Football School (BBFS) U -17 team lost 31–0 to Minerva Academy in I -League U -17. He said, “This is the result he is promising families,” he said, also listed other poor performances to emphasize his point.Rejecting the allegations of corruption within the AIFF, Choubey said, “If there was any corruption, it would have become a red-chagra. These allegations come from 3-4 people who had either lost elections against my team or were in the first AIFF.” Choubey also highlighted the previous role of Bhutia as an AIFF advisor and said with a salary of Rs 1.5 lakh per month and said that since he became President in 2022, the Federation has held 11 executive committee meetings to maintain transparency.
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Turning to on-field affairs, the AIFF chief confirmed that the Executive Committee will hold a meeting on June 29 to review the tenure of the national team coach Manolo Markes. In August 2024, after the exit of the Igor Stimack, Spaniereard managed just one win – a friendly against the Maldives – and India now face the risk of disappearing in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.“Manolo is a good coach and understands Indian football well, but recent performances have raised questions. We will soon decide on his future,” Choubey said. He blamed the lack of quality Indian strikers for the team’s struggles, indicating that India scored only seven goals in 2024, coming against Maldives.
Addressing fan demands to allow India’s foreign nationals (OCI) to play for the national team, Choubey confirmed that AIFF was in touch with 33 eligible players. “Some have received their OCI cards. We are helping others and working within their ability to get approval to strengthen our squad,” he said.This development is out of both to revive India’s fate and on the field amid increasing pressure on the federation.
