India only team in Doha without GPS equipment, head coach Stimac has written in report to federation.
Bhaichung Bhutia blamed All India Football Federation (AIFF) for India’s poor show in the Asian Cup and said it was scapegoating Shaji Prabhakaran by removing him as secretary-general. Speaking after attending the executive committee meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, the former India captain again said AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey and treasurer Kipa Ajay should either resign or be removed as along with Prabhakaran they were responsible for all major decisions.
“The Asian Cup and Asian Games were the two most important tournaments for us and AIFF really messed it up,” Bhutia, an AIFF executive committee member by virtue of being the most capped former international, told HT over the phone from New Delhi. “The team went without preparation to the Asian Games. There was no coordination with clubs ahead of that competition and Shaji was then the secretary-general. Without proper preparation again, a team was sent to Asian Cup from where we returned without scoring a goal.
“It is not the fault of the players or the coaches. Poor planning is the fault of the AIFF management. They could not give the squad time to prepare.”
India returned from 2024 Asian Cup losing all three group league games and conceding six goals. An AIFF executive committee member said in his report on Asian Cup, India head coach Igor Stimac has said barring Australia, Japan and South Korea, many of whose players are based in Europe, the average preparation time for teams at Asian Cup was 27 days. India had 13, Stimac has pointed out. “Overall, it was a disappointing tournament for us all but not unexpected,” the member quoted Stimac as saying.
India were also the only team among 24 at Asian Cup without GPS equipment, Stimac has said, according to the AIFF official. That impedes injury prevention and, “affects the players when they see basic training equipment is missing…,” Stimac has said, according to the official. The official did not want to be named.
Speaking separately, an AIFF official said GPS vests and other equipment were misplaced by airlines after the 2023 Asian Games. “Some four airlines were involved and we have written many letters to them but to no avail. We have lost equipment worth nearly ₹45 lakh. We have ordered new GPS vests,” the official said. The official too did not want to be named.
India’s last game in Asian Games was on September 28. The Asian Cup squad assembled in Doha on December 29.