Insider's Account On Indian Football: 'AIFF's Professional Structure Suffered..'

Last Updated:July 16, 2025, 16:09 IST

The book chronicles Indian football's decline under AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, with the men's FIFA ranking falling to 133.

All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey. (AIFF)

Indian football has deteriorated significantly over the past two years. A new book provides a detailed account of how the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its president, Kalyan Chaubey, allegedly lost their way.

The Indian men’s team’s FIFA ranking has sunk to a dismal 133, its worst in nine years. The upcoming season of the top-tier, which was expected to start in a couple of months, remains uncertain.

In his book ‘Who Stole My Football’, renowned journalist Jaydeep Basu offers an insider’s perspective on what he describes as a systemic breakdown of Indian football, including financial mismanagement under Chaubey’s leadership.

Basu, who previously served as AIFF’s Media Director, has closely witnessed the developments within the organisation, which he meticulously documents.

“The entire professional structure of the AIFF secretariat suffered a breakdown since 2024. The laid down process of appointments was not followed in many instances," Basu writes in his book.

According to Basu, the situation “reached its lowest ebb after Anilkumar took over as the secretary general".

Anilkumar, who succeeded Shaji Prabhakaran as AIFF Secretary General after Prabhakaran was dismissed in November 2023, had to vacate his position earlier this year following a Delhi High Court stay on his appointment.

The book also details the Indian football team’s unpreparedness for the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023.

The Indian team played its first group match only hours after arriving at the Games Village in Hangzhou, as the AIFF managed to assemble a second-string squad at the last minute. The team failed to advance to the knockout stage.

What is Wrong With Indian Football?

Chaubey’s strained relations with Croatian legend and former India head coach Igor Stimac are also highlighted in the book.

“Stimac was bitterly disappointed when Chaubey, without consulting the national coach, finalised India’s participation in the Merdeka Cup in 2024 during FIFA international window."

“Stimac’s biggest complaint was that he never had a chance to explain his side of the story and his plans with the national team because he was hardly given an audience," Basu writes in the book.

(With inputs from PTI)

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...

Read More

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