Unhappy India sacks its national technical team

Unhappy with India's dismal performance in the first two matches of the Asian Cup qualifying football tournament, the All India Football Federation today sacked national team coach Syed Nayeemuddin, manager P K Banerjee, assistant coach Gabriel Joseph and goalkeeping coach Atanu Bhattacharya. With a view on the team's preparation for the Asian Games in December, the Federation has decided to approach FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation for a suitable foreign coach.

The executive committee of the AIFF yesterday indicated that the axe would fall on Nayeemuddin following the team's poor showing in the matches against Japan and Yemen, who are ranked lower than India in the FIFA rankings.

"Considering the preparation of the Indian team in Asian Games, it was decided to reorganise the technical team of the AIFF and approach FIFA and AFC for a suitable foreign coach," the AIFF said in a prepared statement.

See also: Questions posed on the state of Indian football (5 March)