Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia launched a scathing attack on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its president Kalyan Chaubey, questioning the federation’s direction, transparency, and competence in handling key matters concerning Indian football. In a press conference filled with strong words and pointed accusations on Friday, Bhutia expressed grave concerns over the functioning of Indian football’s apex body and called for greater accountability.
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. “I think he (Chaubey) himself does not know what ‘Vision 2047’ is,” the former skipper remarked, casting doubts on the federation’s internal understanding of its own blueprint.
Bhutia also raised concerns over India’s recent performances and the broader implications of a team that has failed to live up to expectations. “It is very unfortunate that we are 133rd in world rankings. We can all see we are struggling in the Asian Cup qualifiers,” he said. While he remains hopeful about qualification, Bhutia highlighted that the path has been made easier due to the expansion of the Asian Cup from 16 to 24 teams. “We must qualify. There is no excuse now.”
He didn’t stop at Vision 2047. Bhutia accused Chaubey of inconsistency and failure in leadership, pointing out that the AIFF president had once claimed India would be among Asia’s top 10 by 2026. “Now he is saying we should have prepared for this 10 years ago,” Bhutia said, alleging that Chaubey’s stance has changed without accountability. “In three years under Kalyan Chaubey, even our women’s team has gone down.”
The former striker likened the current state of the AIFF to a circus. “Anybody following Indian football knows it’s a circus right now, and obviously if you put a joker in that position then that is what will happen,” Bhutia said, in what is arguably his strongest criticism yet of the current leadership.
The controversy surrounding the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which expires in December 2025, was another area Bhutia touched upon. Notably, the federation’s 2025-26 competition calendar did not include the Indian Super League (ISL), leading to speculation about the future of India’s top-tier league.
Bhutia denied reports that he had blocked any deal between AIFF and FSDL. “There were some reports that stated that I had stopped the deal… I did not know I was that powerful,” he said. He added that during a meeting with AIFF officials, the federation had failed to present any proposal of their own. “They ate snacks, listened to their offer, and came back,” he said.
A pending Supreme Court case over the revised AIFF constitution has further stalled the finalisation of any agreement. “Now the court has ordered that the deal will only be made after the Supreme Court case regarding the AIFF constitution,” Bhutia stated, urging all stakeholders to focus solely on Indian football rather than politics or personal agendas.
Bhutia also expressed dissatisfaction with AIFF’s handling of India’s bid to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which was eventually awarded to Saudi Arabia. “God knows what under-the-table deal he has made,” Bhutia said, referring to Chaubey’s visit to Saudi Arabia. He called for a formal investigation.
The former captain defended his own grassroots initiatives, namely the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools, which were accused by the AIFF president of exploiting emotional narratives for commercial benefit. Bhutia clarified that 30% of students were on full scholarship and the remaining were enrolled in sustainable after-school programmes. “We have 220 coaches and 70 centres. All the money goes back into development,” he affirmed.
In conclusion, Bhutia’s explosive remarks reflect the growing discontent within Indian football’s ecosystem. With India facing turbulence both on and off the pitch, calls for reform, clarity, and transparency have never sounded louder.
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