In a bizarre turn of events, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) was recently pranked by a teenager who impersonated Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez to apply for the position of head coach of the Indian national team. The incident has sparked widespread reactions, ranging from amusement to outrage, across social media platforms.

According to reports, the 19-year-old used a fake email address to send the application to the AIFF. Initially, the AIFF confirmed that Xavi's name was among the candidates for the job. Subrata Paul, the AIFF's national team director, was quoted as saying that the application was indeed received via email. However, the AIFF later retracted the statement, revealing the truth behind the prank.

The incident gained traction after a video surfaced on social media platform X, allegedly showing the teenager who sent the fake email. The video included a screen recording from the teenager's sent folder, seemingly showing the fraudulent email sent to the AIFF.

Interestingly, reports also emerged that the AIFF had rejected Xavi's application due to financial constraints. This led to criticism and mockery from fans who questioned the AIFF's decision to let go of an opportunity to potentially hire a coach of Xavi's stature. Some fans sarcastically suggested crowdfunding to raise the necessary funds.

However, reputed football journalist Fabrizio Romano stated that there were "zero talks" between Xavi Hernandez and the AIFF. Another Spanish journalist, Ferran Correas, suggested that the AIFF "intentionally used Xavi's name to boost the profile of the role". Barca Times quoted sources close to Xavi who insisted that he never applied for the head coach position.

The AIFF has been on the lookout for a new head coach after Manolo Marquez's departure earlier in July 2025. The list of potential candidates reportedly included former India head coach Stephen Constantine, ex-Liverpool star Harry Kewell, and India's own Khalid Jamil. The unexpected arrival of Xavi's application, albeit through unofficial channels, caught the AIFF off guard. It was reported that the application was missing key details, such as a contact number, raising concerns within the federation.

The prank has raised serious questions about the AIFF's digital verification processes and the ease with which it was deceived. It also highlighted the passionate, sometimes স্বপ্ন fueled, relationship that Indian football fans have with the sport and their national team. While the dream of having Xavi Hernandez coach the Indian team may have been just that – a dream – the incident serves as a reminder of the need for robust verification and clear communication within football's governing bodies.