Following India's 1-0 defeat to Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup qualifier, former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has unleashed a wave of criticism against the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its president, Kalyan Chaubey. Bhutia has gone as far as to say that "Kalyan Chaubey has destroyed Indian football" and demanded his resignation, citing mismanagement, corruption, and a general decline in the state of the sport in the country. Chaubey has responded to these allegations, defending his tenure and pointing out Bhutia's alleged inaction during his time as an advisor to the AIFF.

Bhutia's criticism stems from India's recent performance and overall trajectory in football. He highlighted the fact that while countries like Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Jordan have qualified for the World Cup, India is struggling to even secure a place in the Asia Cup. Bhutia also criticized the decision to bring Sunil Chhetri out of retirement, calling it a desperate move rather than a planned strategy. He further alleged that Chaubey bypassed the Technical Committee to appoint Manolo Marquez as the head coach and questioned the decision to allow Marquez to simultaneously coach FC Goa.

Chaubey, in response, has strongly refuted the allegations of corruption and mismanagement. He stated that if there were any evidence of corruption, it would have been noticed and red-flagged. He also pointed out that Bhutia served as an advisor to the AIFF with a substantial monthly remuneration and attended 11 executive committee meetings where he could have raised concerns about corruption. Chaubey has accused Bhutia of taking "undue advantage by playing on emotions" through his commercial football schools, referring to a 31-0 defeat of Bhutia's academy against Minerva Academy.

The AIFF president addressed the growing demand to include Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) in the national team setup. He said the AIFF is in touch with 33 eligible players and has initiated discussions with various government departments to allow OCI players to represent India.

The controversy comes at a crucial time for Indian football, as the nation aims to improve its standing on the global stage. India is bidding to host the 2031 Asian Cup and is also working towards including OCI players in the national team. The AIFF plans to decide on Manolo Marquez's future on June 29. The outcome of this spat between two of Indian football's most prominent figures could have far-reaching consequences for the sport in the country.