Bhaichung Bhutia, the former captain of the Indian national football team, has unleashed a torrent of criticism against the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its president, Kalyan Chaubey, painting a bleak picture of the sport's administration in the country. Bhutia's outburst comes in the wake of India's recent struggles on the international stage, including a shocking defeat to Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and a string of winless matches.

Bhutia didn't hold back, accusing Chaubey of turning the AIFF into a "circus" and questioning his understanding of the 'Vision 2047' strategic roadmap. This roadmap is intended to transform Indian football into a powerhouse in Asia by 2047, but Bhutia believes that the current leadership is clueless about how to achieve this ambitious goal. He highlighted the team's dismal 133rd ranking and their struggles in the Asian Cup Qualifiers as evidence of the AIFF's mismanagement. He stated that while qualification is possible, it's crucial to acknowledge that the Asian Cup now includes 24 teams, compared to 16 during his captaincy.

The former captain directly attacked Chaubey's earlier statement that India would be among the top 10 teams in Asia by 2026, pointing out the lack of progress and the decline of the women's team under Chaubey's leadership. Bhutia also lambasted the decision-making process within the AIFF, alleging that key footballing committees were bypassed in major decisions, including the appointment of head coach Manolo Marquez. He criticized the decision to allow Marquez to simultaneously coach both FC Goa and the national team.

Bhutia didn't spare his words when discussing Sunil Chhetri's return from retirement. He deemed it a "bad decision" driven by desperation rather than strategic planning, questioning the long-term impact and the lack of focus on grassroots development. Furthermore, Bhutia addressed allegations made by the AIFF president against the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools, a chain of commercial football academies run by the former striker. Chaubey had accused the schools of "taking undue advantage by playing on emotions".

Bhutia's criticism reflects a growing frustration among Indian football stakeholders regarding the current state of affairs. The team's poor performance, coupled with allegations of mismanagement and a lack of clear direction, have fueled calls for a complete overhaul of the system. Bhutia, who contested against Chaubey in the AIFF presidential election in September 2022, has been a vocal critic of the current administration, alleging corruption and demanding Chaubey's resignation. He has called for a structural change to the AIFF.