Football
No confidence motion looms over AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey faces a potential no-confidence motion as over 20 state associations express dissatisfaction with his leadership.
FILE PHOTO: Kalyan Chaubey became the AIFF president in September 2022.
Over 20 state football associations are reportedly planning to move a no-confidence motion against All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey next month as per Hindustan Times.
The dissatisfaction stems from poor performance, management issues, and administrative controversies during his tenure.
The associations are citing Article 23(4) of the AIFF constitution, which mandates an extraordinary general meeting within 60 days if one-third of the federation's members call for it. Observers from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will also participate in the meeting, per protocol.
Chaubey, a former goalkeeper who became AIFF president in September 2022, has faced mounting criticism over his management. His tenure has been marred by multiple controversies, including the sacking of AIFF secretary-general Shaji Prabhakaran in November 2023.
Prabhakaran later lodged complaints with the ethics committees of AIFF, AFC, and FIFA, alleging “potential violations” of ethics codes under Chaubey’s leadership.
AIFF has also been criticized for operational inefficiencies.
The dissatisfaction extends to India’s underwhelming football performance under Chaubey.
The men’s national team failed to win a match in 2024, with their FIFA ranking plummeting from 102 to 126. The women’s team lost to Nepal and Bangladesh in the SAFF Championship, and the under-20 team suffered a 1-6 loss to Syria last Friday.
Additionally, the AIFF had to pay $400,000 in compensation to former national team coach Igor Stimac last September, marking a historic financial setback for the organization.
The state associations plan to meet within two weeks to finalize their demand for an extraordinary general meeting.
Chaubey’s leadership has sparked a heated debate, with critics pointing to administrative missteps and poor results, while some still support him as a former player who understands the sport.
However, with growing discontent among stakeholders, his position appears increasingly precarious.
