In international football, acrimonious allegations between a manager and officials following a sacking are not uncommon. The wife of former South Korea boss Shin Tae-yong made headlines after his departure, claiming coaches were forced to drink with officials, journalists, and sponsors, leading to stomach ailments. Now, the Guardian reports that the departure of India’s head coach, Stephen Constantine, has caused a major controversy involving allegations of heart issues and astrology in team selection.
On June 17, Indian national team coach Constantine, 56, from Croatia, was dismissed. In the aftermath, he criticized the All India Football Federation (AIFF), alleging he had been “imprisoned” by an administration more concerned with appearances than progress. He said, “The sooner the AIFF president and key people leave, the better it will be for Indian football. These people only care about creating social media buzz.”
Constantine listed issues such as his attempts to convince authorities that World Cup qualifiers were more important than the Asian Cup, but they were more focused on prestige. He stated, “This put immense pressure on me, which led to me having to undergo a heart operation.”
The AIFF responded, “His sole intention is to defame, his irresponsible allegations that the AIFF caused his heart condition are merely an attempt to deflect from the fact that his health was not suitable for the role.”
The Guardian highlighted that Constantine’s sacking primarily resulted from poor performance: India lost all three matches in the Asian Cup without scoring a goal, finishing at the bottom of their group. They also failed to advance to the second round of World Cup qualifiers. What difference does it make whether the Asian Cup or World Cup qualifiers are prioritized? Both performances fell short of expectations!
Furthermore, the AIFF accused Constantine of relying on an astrologer to decide player selections and tactics, causing public uproar. Constantine dismissed these claims as a “shame,” asserting, “I rely on work, knowledge, and what I see on the training pitch to make decisions. Some in India are trying to tarnish my work with false allegations, but the truth is that these tasks have been executed perfectly.”
Both parties have engaged in legal threats and lengthy statements, with Constantine receiving a severance package equivalent to three months’ salary. However, a courtroom showdown remains possible. Amidst the drama, India’s search for a new coach has proceeded, with 214 applications received after the position was publicly advertised.
Indian football coach accused of using astrology to pick players, rift with officials could lead to court battle. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/14694.html
