Igor Stimac to Receive Over Rs 3 Crore as Compensation from AIFF

Former Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac is set to receive approximately Rs 3.36 crore (USD 400,000) as compensation from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) following the termination of his contract in June.

The settlement comes after a dispute over unpaid dues that saw Stimac threaten legal action.

Stimac's contract, originally set to expire in June 2025, was terminated after India's exit from the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, despite facing a relatively easy group.

His sacking led to a war of words between Stimac and the AIFF, with the Croatian coach demanding compensation within 10 days.

Stimac initially sought USD 920,000 (approximately Rs 7.72 crore) for two years of salary, but the parties eventually reached a compromise.

"The AIFF has approved a payment of USD 400,000 to settle the issue," a source revealed.

This amount is considered significant for the AIFF, which has been facing financial challenges and has reduced its budget for competitions this year.

Stimac had rejected previous offers of three months’ salary, and later five and 10 months’ salary, before finally agreeing to this compensation package.

The 57-year-old had been head coach since 2019 and received a contract extension in October 2023, with a condition that India must reach the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup to continue until 2026.

However, the team failed to meet expectations.

Stimac has been replaced by Manolo Marquez as the new head coach of the Indian men's team.