STORY | Indian shooting coach Jaspal Rana dies at 49 Renowned Indian shooting coach and former Asian Games gold medallist Jaspal Rana has died. He was 49. According to National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, Rana breathed his last at a Delhi hospital on Thursday night. READ: ptinews.com/story/sports/ind… (PTI File Photo)

COACHES' PARADE IN AIFF A highly interesting game of Musical Chairs for all National Teams coaching positions is being conducted by the Kalyan Chaubey-M Satynarayan combination over the past three years. Here is the list: Senior Men (3): Igor Stimac, Manolo Marquez, Khalid Jamil Senior Women (6): Thomas Dennerby, Chaoba Devi, Santosh Kashyap, Crispin Chettri, Amelia Valverde, Crispin Chettri (back again) U23 Men (2): Clifford Miranda, Naushad Moosa U20 Men (5): Shanmugam Venkatesh, Subhendu Panda, Ranjan Chowdhury, Bibiano Fernandes, Mahesh Gawli U17 Men (3): Bibiano Fernandes, Ishfaq Ahmed, Bibiano Fernandes (back again) U20 Women (3): Maymol Rocky, Sukla Dutta, Joakim Alexandersson U17 Women (4): Priya PV, Biby Thomas, Joakim Alexandersson, Pamela Conti #IndianFootball

A SATISFYING WIN IN WOMEN’S SAFF India’s victory in the #SAFFWomensChampionship2026 in Goa came as a double delight. While regaining the title after seven years is a matter of relief for a team that once enjoyed hegemony over the region, it is also a triumph from an organisational point of view. In the previous edition in October 2024 in Kathmandu, where India crashed out of the semi-finals, losing to the hosts, the atmosphere was hardly ideal. A goal by Nepal, disallowed by the referee, saw the match held up for nearly an hour. While the host team players refused to continue, a rather aggressive and partisan crowd made the situation worse. The Indian players and support staff were loudly booed and abused. Stones and bottles were thrown at them. Understandably, the Indian girls lost their rhythm and the match when it was resumed. A similar incident was witnessed in Dhaka in February 2024 in the Women’s SAFF U19 championship. Here the situation was more volatile. After the full time and the tie-breaker ended in a draw, the Indian contingent was forced to stay confined in the dressing room as the organisers couldn’t take a decision because of sheer crowd pressure at the BSSSMK Stadium. After a two-hour drama, India were nearly forced to accept the decision to be declared joint winners. It was simply a bitter pill to swallow. Both episodes raised serious doubts about the organisational capabilities of certain member associations. On both occasions, official protests should have been lodged considering the plights of the Indian girls, but the spineless AIFF officials shied away from protecting their players. Congratulations to Crispin Chettri and his wards for bringing back the smiles on the faces of the fans. #IndianFootball

ISL CLUBS’ MEETING WITH SPORTS MINISTER The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has written to the ISL clubs inviting them for a meeting on Monday, June 8, at 3 pm. The meeting to be held at the Sports Authority of India office in Delhi at 3 pm will be chaired by the sports minister. The email inviting the clubs for the meeting doesn’t specify the agenda items. #IndianFootball

TEMPORARY ROADBLOCK IN CLUBS-AIFF ISL DEAL? The proposed implementation of a two-year club-led ISL pilot model has reportedly developed a few hitches in the past 48 hours. While the clubs are eager to clinch a deal on a flat payment of Rs. 15 crore per season and walk away with the rights to run the ISL, the AIFF, it is believed, wants additional payments to cover up for the expenses it would face as the regulatory body. It majorly includes the professional, travel, and logistical payments of the technical officials. With a former senior AIFF office bearer taking unusual interest in batting for the clubs (if the sources are to be believed), some feel his sheer clout and influence would see the deal through. But the real problem lies elsewhere; it is the trust factor that is causing the trouble. While a few in the AIFF are sceptical about the clubs running the ISL after struggling to keep their respective clubs afloat, many among the clubs think the monumental inefficiency and the agenda-based functioning of the three top officials in the parent body hold the arrant weight to bring the entire structure down (a view shared by nearly everyone in the fraternity). It is sincerely hoped that the minor differences would be ironed out and the season would start in right earnest. #IndianFootball

ISL BID: A TWIST TO THE RIGMAROLE Amidst confusion over the lack of players’ contracts and calendar for the new season, the ISL clubs have reportedly stepped up their offer to acquire the commercial rights of the ISL. According to sources, the ISL clubs have proposed a two-season deal to run the premier league with a guaranteed amount of Rs. 15 crores per season to be paid to the AIFF. The offer is two crores more than the one the AIFF currently has on hand. With the highly inflated players’ payment market of Indian football currently witnessing a downfall only comparable to the Wall Street crash of 1929 and several clubs publicly threatening a shutdown, the practicality of the said offer may raise serious doubts among many in the fraternity. But the Zen Buddha-like calmness (read inactivity) of the AIFF bosses in response to the emergency situation has not helped the cause. Hope the AIFF wake up from its slumber and engage into a serious dialogue with the clubs when they are expected to meet on Thursday. #IndianFootball

India Fall 1-0 to Zimbabwe || Poor Performance, Zero Confidence Under Kh... youtube.com/live/ol0oSPpFqoY… via @YouTube from 9.45 PM Live with @SayanSarkar62 @jaydeepbasu Join us and share your views.

You've got to move when the spirit say move,/Move when the spirit say move!/When the spirit say move, Oh Lord,/you've got to move,/you got to move when the spirit say move.

SOUMO GHOSH: Take a bow Our dear friend, Soumo Ghosh, has decided to bid adieu to the virtually impossible job of managing the unmanageable, i.e., the Indian football media circus, and try his luck elsewhere on the western coast. A copybook media man, he played his innings with a straight bat, took a lot in his stride, and refused to sell his conscience despite many provocations. An instantly loveable soul and remarkably good at his job, Soumo’s search for greener pastures would definitely pay dividends; his professionalism would finally be acknowledged, respected, and rewarded. We sincerely wish him all the luck! @soumo17 @akhilrwt9 @SrutiC_16 @DEBANJA1234 @IndianFootball

Post ISL: Indian Football Plunges Into Darkness || IFF NEWS EXCLUSIVE youtube.com/live/_BcfpDJBluM… via @YouTube With @jaydeepbasu @SayanSarkar62

NO ISL COMMERCIAL DEAL YET The AIFF SGM in Kolkata on Saturday, May 23, 2026, didn't approve the proposed ISL commercial bid from Genius Sports. It will be taken up by the AIFF Exco once again and the decision would be sent to the SGM for its final call. #IndianFootball

EAST BENGAL: THE AWAKENING OF THE FOUNTAIN It was a night of glory for a dawn that East Bengal had been searching for ever since they joined the ISL bandwagon. While their millions of fans waited for this moment with bated breath despite too many heartbreaks for too long a time, their Spanish manager Oscar Bruzon broke the shackles of failure with a dedicated bunch of boys. He had to fight a few battles within the system, off the pitch, but the red and golden brigade stayed determined to be responsible for the history book this time. Well done, East Bengal. The legacy never dies; the tradition still has the power to dictate terms in this world, no matter how much these values are ridiculed by the rapidly-growing numbers of upstarts. #IndianFootball

AIFF FOOTBALL HOUSE: DARKNESS AT NOON Recently, a video clip circulating on social media captured an interesting activity; the AIFF President @kalyanchaubey was spotted distributing free tickets to fans in Kolkata minutes before the start of the ISL Kolkata Derby. Kudos to Chaubey for such benevolence, though one strongly suspects it was mainly for the optics. Normally, charity doesn’t begin at home for Chaubey and his chief constable M Satyanarayan, the Deputy Secretary General of the AIFF. Ever since the duo wrested full control in early 2024, they have reduced the headquarters of the AIFF, Football House in Delhi, to complete shambles through their blatant anti-staff activities. The staff members are being mistreated in the worst possible manner. Their annual increments have been stopped; the yearly bonus has been reduced drastically with TAs/DAs heavily cut down. The long-standing practice of one month’s salary as a bonus payment is a thing of the past. What the Chaubey-Satyanarayan combination offers now is a pittance. Senior and experienced staff members have either left in disgust or have been shown the door. Little effort has been made to fill in the vacant positions with professionals. Rampant parochialism has allegedly played a role in fresh recruitments. Nearly 14 months have passed since any annual increment has been offered to a staff member, barring a few exceptions. Instead, some of them are encouraged to work from home so that salaries can be reduced. The contracts of most of the employees have been extended only up to May 31. The chief argument is that there is a paucity of funds since the sponsors and investors have steadily run away under the Chaubey-Satyanarayan administration. Very true. But it hasn’t stopped the AIFF from buying an SUV for Rs 33 lakhs, which remains stationed almost for the exclusive use of Chaubey. A luxurious guest house is permanently booked for Rs. 80,000/- per month. The President parks himself there for days whenever he is in Delhi. The number of air tickets issued to the President in the past four years has surely broken all previous records. The total amount is simply staggering. The severe cash crunch hasn’t stopped the DSG from receiving the nod of the Finance Committee for a 30 per cent increment that runs into six figures. In the meantime, the AIFF has enough money to entertain its entourage of members in a five-star hotel in Kolkata for 72 hours for a two-hour Special General Meeting on May 23 which is reportedly called for “discussion and deliberation". The coffers suddenly dry up when it comes to paying those who toil day and night to actively run the game throughout the year. The nearer the church, the further from God. This post serves no purpose. It will make no difference. Because a leopard cannot change its spots. @IndianFootball @IndiaSports @YASMinistry @NisithPramanik

EXCLUSIVE | Legal Notice Rocks AIFF Ahead of Crucial SGM In a significant development, Ms. Valanka Alemao — AIFF Executive Committee Member, Chairperson of the AIFF Women’s Football Committee, and Member of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee — has issued a legal notice dated 10 May 2026 to the President and Deputy Secretary General of the All India Football Federation. The notice demanded the immediate cancellation of the Special General Body Meeting (SGM) scheduled for 23 May 2026, citing multiple violations of the AIFF Constitution approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Key Allegations: •The General Body has not been duly constituted as mandated under Article 20 of the AIFF Constitution (approved vide Supreme Court judgment dated 19 September 2025 in All India Football Federation v. Rahul Mehra & Ors.).
The Constitution explicitly requires: ◦15 Eminent Players (minimum 5 women) elected from the National Players’ Association (per Schedule IV) ◦3 Club representatives (ISL, I-League, Indian Women’s League) ◦2 Referees’ representatives (1 male, 1 female) ◦2 Coaches’ representatives (1 male, 1 female) •Despite calling for applications to form the National Players’, Coaches’ and Referees’ Associations on 12 December 2025 (deadline: 11 January 2026), these bodies were not constituted. •The proposed SGM agenda includes constitutional amendments (including changes to Articles 25.3(c) & (d) and alignment with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025). Such amendments require 75% quorum of the full strength of the General Body under Article 23.1 and proposals to be submitted 25 days in advance by at least 3 members (Article 23.2) — both requirements have been violated. •Agenda item on commercial partners for ISL, IWL & Super League also contravenes Article 21.1(m), which mandates 75% approval for agreements longer than 4 years or exceeding ₹5 crore. •The timing of the SGM — immediately before summer court vacations — raises concerns of an attempt to rush through decisions while limiting judicial recourse. The notice referred the Supreme Court’s strong emphasis on including eminent sportspersons (minimum 25% under NSC 2011) to ensure “transparency and fair play” and good governance. Demands in the Notice: 1Forthwith cancel the SGM scheduled for 23 May 2026. 2Immediately constitute the National Players’, Coaches’ and Referees’ Associations and complete the General Body as per the Constitution. 3Provide written confirmation of compliance within one week. Failing which, Ms. Alemao has instructed her counsel to initiate appropriate legal proceedings. Full legal notice and Supreme Court judgment excerpts are now in public domain. This latest flashpoint questions the ongoing tension between the AIFF’s reform commitments under the Supreme Court-mandated Constitution and its implementation on the ground. Indian football continues its long road to structural transparency. Developments awaited. ⚽ #AIFF #IndianFootball #ValankaAlemao #SupremeCourt #FootballGovernance #SportsLaw (Source: Legal Notice dated 10.05.2026 issued by Adv. Kanika Singh on behalf of Ms. Valanka Alemao)

Oscar Bruzón is set to leave East Bengal FC at the end of the season, with growing uncertainty around the Indian football roadmap playing a key role. Concerns over the club’s planning, lack of clarity on key player extensions, and absence of a long-term vision have influenced the decision. A big announcement is expected soon. 🔴⚽️ #EastBengal #IndianFootball By - Sayan Sarkar Sports Editor IFF News

AIFF’S NEO-NORMAL The AIFF filed an appeal today challenging certain decisions of the Delhi High Court in the Churchill Brothers FC’s case against @kalyanchaubey over his conflict of interest issues. The AIFF is picking up the bills for the litigation despite the petition being primarily against Chaubey and not involving the federation. This is a litigation that Chaubey should contest individually. Incidentally, the AIFF hasn’t offered any salary increment to its staff members for more than a year now, citing paucity of funds. The contractual employees’ agreement has only been extended until May 31. #IndianFootball

BAD TASTE IN THE MOUTH  If ISL is a circus, then it has its share of clowns too. Some foreign coaches are in the lead roles. Juan Pedro Ben Ali Hammou today joined the show. Being successful managers doesn't grant licences for poor conduct on the pitch. #IndianFootbal