Outraged by India’s plummeting fortunes on the football field, former captain Bhaichung Bhutia has accused the national federation of destroying the sport, while some other stakeholders have lambasted the current system as “rotten” and riddled with “fragile egos”.

Bhutia’s scathing attack on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its president Kalyan Chaubey came a day after the team collapsed to a stunning 0-1 loss to lower-ranked Hong Kong in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. “It’s very painful to see. We are definitely struggling now to even qualify for the Asia Cup, which we’ve been doing regularly,” Bhutia said. “Countries like Uzbekistan and Jordan have qualified for the World Cup, and we are still struggling for the Asia Cup. Very unfortunate,” he lamented.

Visibly anguished, Bhutia called for Chaubey’s resignation and demanded a structural overhaul of Indian football, describing the on-field disasters and off-field chaos as symptoms of a deeper rot. India head coach Manolo Marquez hasn’t been able to arrest the slide and the team has logged just one win in its last eight matches. The defeat against Hong Kong is expected to push the country down to 133 in FIFA rankings.

Bhutia, who was defeated by Chaubey in the AIFF presidential election in September 2022, did not mince words while calling out the current leadership, alleging mismanagement, corruption and bypassing of key footballing committees in major decisions, including the appointment of Marquez. He criticised the decision to let Marquez simultaneously coach both FC Goa and the national team.

“Chaubey has destroyed Indian football. He has to resign and leave. Three General Secretaries in two-and-a-half years – the entire structure, the system will have to be changed,” he said. “Controversy after controversy, corruption charge… even after months now we don’t know who the I-League winner is,” he added, referring to the legal tussle between Inter Kashi and Churchill Brothers.

‘Foreign coaches not the solution’

Legendary defender and coach Subrata Bhattacharya slammed the obsession with foreign coaches, saying, “It’s no guarantee that a foreign coach will give you success. Domestic coaches like PK Banerjee and Amal Dutta brought glory. Foreigners in ISL won’t help Indian players develop. Only Indian coaches know our boys and can develop them.” On Chhetri’s return, Bhattacharya, who also happens to be his father-in-law, said, “It’s his personal decision, but if it was done to serve someone’s personal interest, it’s wrong.”

“We have not progressed an inch. The Federation is completely responsible. They have been a complete failure,” said former India international Goutam Sarkar.

System needs urgent fix: Puskur

Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal and FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur also launched a scathing attack on the AIFF, calling for deep introspection and structural reforms. Puskur called the system “rotten in ways we refuse to admit”. “Everything moves on influence, favours and fragile egos. We don’t have the maturity to manage the ecosystem we claim to be building,” Puskur wrote on X.

Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal lashed out at the AIFF on social media, calling for urgent course correction. “Deep introspection needed by the AIFF. Get a manager and a system that works – it’s high time,” he said.