Igor Stimac show-caused by AIFF for harsh criticism of ISL clubs

IGOR STIMAC WAS show-caused by the AIFF after his sharp criticism of ISL clubs.

The national team head coach, who has long voiced the need for longer national camps, spoke out multiple times when ISL clubs expressed reluctance to release players for longer periods than required under the FIFA international window rules.

With the Indian national team playing in Kings's Cup and Merdeka Tournament and the India U-23 team taking part in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers as well as Asian Games, the clubs have had to release two sets of players to the national team camps instead of one, all during non-FIFA windows. With India set to begin the World Cup qualifiers campaign soon, the national team will have a good amount of game time leading up to the Asian Cup.

However, due to the expanded domestic season consisting of Durand Cup, national leagues (ISL, I-League, 2nd Division League, 3rd Division League) along with Federation Cup apart from AFC tournaments (AFC Champions League & AFC Cup), the clubs are busy throughout the calendar and Stimac has not received the month-long preparatory camp he asked for. In some recent interviews, he harshly criticised the clubs for not wanting to release players for non-matchday national camps that clashed with crucial club games.

The tussle between national duty and club football is nothing new, but the number of matches India is playing outside the FIFA window is unsual.

Either way, the comments from the coach seemed to have ruffled enough feathers and now Stimac must defend his comments to the AIFF.

The show-cause notice sparked concerns among fans that Stimac could be sacked; but that's unlikely to happen when the Indian national team are on a historic unbeaten streak and have won a record 3 trophies already in 2023.

Earlier, AIFF have already extended Igor Stimac's contract till the end of the Asian Cup in 2024.

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