AIFF faces financial crisis after 5–0 loss to New Zealand

The Indian men’s national football team lost 5-0 to New Zealand at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Thursday, a result that compounds the All India Football Federation’s deepening financial and administrative crisis. The defeat follows a winless 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification cycle, intensifying scrutiny on the leadership of AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey and head coach Khalid Jamil.

The federation is grappling with a deficit estimated between ₹80 crore and ₹85 crore, according to financial disclosures. This shortfall stems largely from high-profile October friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay that failed to generate projected revenue. The AIFF has defaulted on appearance fees totaling ₹19 crore to Brazil and ₹4.7 crore to Uruguay.

When Chaubey attempted to liquidate a ₹20 crore

Internal friction has paralyzed the federation’s attempts to address these obligations. When Chaubey attempted to liquidate a ₹20 crore fixed deposit to cover immediate debts, the AIFF Executive Committee blocked the transaction, demanding a comprehensive financial review. This follows earlier operational failures, including a March incident where team was locked out of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi due to unpaid rent and security deposits.

On the pitch, Jamil’s tactical decisions have faced criticism, including a quintuple substitution at halftime in Auckland that failed to stem the scoring. The federation’s inability to secure a victory in the Asian Cup qualification race has left the team’s competitive future uncertain. The AIFF has not yet announced a timeline for the requested financial review or a resolution to the outstanding international fees.