Igor Stimac, the former head coach of the Indian men’s national football team, has reached an agreement with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to receive USD 400,000 (approximately ₹3.36 crore) after tax as compensation for his termination.
Stimac was sacked by the AIFF in June, a year before his contract was set to expire, following India’s elimination from the second round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The sacking sparked a public dispute between Stimac and the AIFF, with the Croat threatening legal action if his dues were not settled within 10 days.
However, the two parties have now reached an amicable resolution. “The AIFF top brass has approved payment of USD 400,000 as compensation to settle the issue with AIFF,” a source close to the development told PTI.
The compensation amount is significant for the AIFF, which has faced financial challenges in recent times and has reduced its competitions budget this year. The federation had initially offered Stimac three months’ salary as compensation, but he rejected the offer and filed a claim with FIFA for USD 920,000 (approximately ₹7.72 crore) as two years’ salary.
Stimac, who was appointed as head coach in 2019, was given an extension until 2026 by the AIFF in October 2021. However, the extension was conditional on the team reaching the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup, a feat that India has never achieved. India finished last in their group in the 2011 and 2015 editions of the continental tournament.
Manolo Marquez has replaced Stimac as the new head coach of the Indian men’s team. Stimac had previously rejected offers from the AIFF to settle for five and then 10 months’ salary.
