Kolkata : Former Indian Footballer Bhaichung Bhutia has slammed AIFF, and raised stinging criticisms against president Kalyan Chaubey and the tactics of AIFF, accusing of mismanagement, corruption, and turning AIFF into ‘circus’.
MISMANAGEMENT OF AIFF PRESIDENT KALYAN CHAUBEY
Speaking to PTI, Bhutia did not hold back in his assessment of Chaubey’s tenure, saying “I don’t need to say much. I think the entire football fans in India are aware of what has happened in the last three years — it’s been disastrous, not just on the field but off the field also. It’s just been a disastrous and bad management of the football federation under Kalyan Chaubey,” Bhutia said.
Bhutia, former Indian captain raised criticisms at tough times of Indian Football, where they’re not only facing shameful defeats but also insults, criticisms from everyone, raising questions over accountability, transparency, consistency over performances.
AIFF TURNED INTO CIRCUS
He also termed the Kalyan Chaubey managed AIFF as ‘circus‘ for their mismanagement.
Bhutia said indian football has been experiencing one of the worst phases in recent history — both in performance and credibility — under the stewardship of Chaubey.
Bhutia, taking dig at I-League fiasco of champion between Inter Kashi and Churchill Brothers and AIFF’s inability to resolve the issue said, “Now no one still doesnt know who the winner of the I-league is. It is shocking. Every club is right in the their own way, AIFF is being unfair to everyone, it is like a joke asking to return the trophy. AIFF has become a circus right now, but ofcourse if you put jokers at the positions, it will become a circus”.
REMOVAL OF KALYAN CHAUBEY
Demanding removal of Kalyan Chaubey, Bhutia said that it will be for betterment of Indian Football.
“I can assure you, if Kalyan Chaubey is removed, we can’t go below this. There is only upwards and onwards, but retaining Kalyan will only invite further disaster. Indian football will only improve after his departure. I can’t assure how much and how long since good things take time in football. He has autocratically taken all decisions himself and destroyed the state of football in India “.
Bhaichung Bhutia, who is regarded as one of the finest footballers India has ever produced, also alleged that the footballer-turned-politician Kalyan Chaubey functions in a dictatorial manner, often prioritising his political ambitions over the welfare of Indian football.
“I have captained the Indian football team and played quite a number of games for India but I have never seen Kalyan Chaubey play. If he said so in public, he has been lying. Even during his playing days, he was more interested in politics than playing. I warned people that he was not the right guy. Even those who supported him regret their decisions. We need to bring somebody sincere to do the job,” said he.
IGOR STIMAC vs KALYAN CHAUBEY
Bhutia even went on to say that there were tussles between Igor Stimac (former Indian coach who was sacked) and Kalyan, even admitted by Stimac himself that Kalyan was more interested in politics. Besides this, Bhutia also went on to raise questions on voting rights.
“One case that is in Supreme Court and I am a part of the case is voting rights for players. Even Mehtab [ Hossain] and Nabi are a part of the same. Surprisingly, Kalyan, despite being a former football player, is against giving voting rights to players and having their say. He has always been against forming player’s association for the welfare of players“, Bhutia said.
“There had been a huge tussle between Igor and Kalyan. Under Igor, we have won several tournaments. Even Igor said how Kalyan has been more interested in his politics than betterment of football. He has gone so low that he even approached opposition members to vote for him and in return, he will offer them some positions”
DECLINE OF INDIAN FOOTBALL & QUESTION ON VISION 2047
Bhaichung Bhutia highlighted the unfortunate decline of both the men’s and women’s football teams in the last three years. He feels that the current president has only made big promises, which never became a reality and deceived the footballing community in India.
He took references from Kalyan’s promises of taking India to the top 10 in Asia by 2026 and Vision 2047. Both of which were nothing less than a distant dream.
He said, “The AIFF President promised to bring us among the top 10 in Asia by 2026. In the last three years under Kalyan Chaubey, it is so unfortunate how both the men’s and women’s teams have been declining.”
Bhutia strongly emphasised the urgency of making AIFF more transparent to avoid corruption and scandals going inside the federation. He also urged a fair investigation into India’s sudden withdrawal from hosting the AFC Asian Cup in 2027 after Kalyan’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
He said, “Last three years, under Kalyan Chaubey, a lot of negative things have come to light. Corruption, financial discrepancies have all come out. Now you know AIFF bid for the 2031 Asian Cup, but the original plan was the Asian Cup 2027. He went and cancelled the bid. Now I don’t know what under-the-table deal he did with Saudi, but he withdrew the bid.”
“This should be investigated fairly by a neutral person. Kalyan goes to Saudi Arabia, and instead, he got in an agreement with them to play the Santosh Trophy in Saudi Arabia. The 2027 could have been the best chance for us to host, but now the central asian nations are coming up, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and it will make our chances much more difficult,” he concluded in that regard.
At the centre of his criticism was AIFF’s strategic roadmap Vision 2047, a long-term development plan aimed at turning India into a footballing powerhouse in Asia by its centenary year. Bhutia, however, remained unconvinced about its execution or clarity of goals.
He said, “Our President Kalyan Chuabey had also said that in 2026 we will be in top 10 in Asian and he even introduced the 2047 program. But in three years under Kalyan Chaubey the teams has slipped down and not just men’s team, the women’s team as well. But how do we produce results? We have to improve the quality of the players, we have to improve the grassroots. I dont think Kalyan Chaubey has even read his Vision 2047 properly. We need to emphasise on grassroots program”.
OCI PLAYERS
Speaking on the red hot issue of bringing in OCI Players for upliftment of Indian Football, Bhutia said, “OCI players is a topic since a long time. Even during my playing days, when we played the Asian Cup, Michael Chopra, who played in the Premier League, trained with us. Even Stephen Constantine had approached for the same. But let Kalyan show the names of the 33 OCI players who are in contact with them. Let him show some email or something else in the public domain. He has done nothing in the last three years to bring OCI players. This is just a stunt from him recently after India’s downfall.
“But again OCI players are very important. The government of India will most likely show a green light to OCI players as they are planning to even host the Olympics, Asian Cup.”
Bhutia’s revelation that the Indian government planning to give a green light to OCI players will come as a boost for Indian football fans. If this is approved, then the Blue Tigers could potentially have players like Blackburn Rovers defender Danny Batth and Hearts player Yan Dhanda play for them in the future.
Indian Football team will next take on Singapore on October 9, 2025, Bhutia too remains hopeful.
“I have full faith in the team, it has only been 2 matches, but I trust the players that they can pull this off against Singapore. When we played in Asian Cup in 2011 it was just 16 teams, but now it is 24 teams so India must qualify for the Asian Cup”, Bhutia added.
AIFF RESPONSE
In an official statement, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey addressed the claims of corruption and poor governance. He highlighted the executive boards principles of “transparency, collaboration and the collective development of Indian football.”
“We follow two slogans – ‘football unites the world’ and ‘Indian football, forward together’. These slogans reflect our shared vision, and I firmly believe that by working together, we can take Indian football to greater heights,” Chaubey stated.
He also wrote, “We live in a democratic country where every citizen has the constitutional right to freedom of speech. As a member of the AIFF Executive Committee, Mr. Bhaichung Bhutia has access to an appropriate and empowered platform to express his views, raise concerns, and contribute constructively towards the development and performance of Indian football in the various AIFF Executive Committee meetings.”
While Bhutia’s blunt remarks have reignited debate about the direction and governance of Indian football, Chaubey appealed for unity and a collective push forward. He also stressed that Bhutia has “consistently and deliberately made baseless allegations and presented a distorted image of the AIFF.” The President exclaimed that such actions not only tarnish the reputation of the Federation, but also throw Indian football in a negative light on international platforms.
Moreover, the AIFF President has also ‘welcomed’ Bhutia to contest in the upcoming AIFF Executive Committee Meeting scheduled for July 2, 2025, and that ‘he is encouraged to present any constructive proposals during the meeting, which will duly be deliberated upon by the entire executive board’.
The heights where this new fiasco will end is now a new chapter to unfold.
