AIFF's Management of Women's Asian Cup Team Faces Scrutiny from Committee Head
The All India Football Federation's (AIFF) approach to managing the national women's team during the AFC Women's Asian Cup has come under sharp criticism from one of its own senior officials. Valanka Alemao, an executive committee member and chairperson of the AIFF women's football committee, has publicly questioned the federation's decisions, highlighting a series of alleged blunders that she claims led to India's disappointing performance and national embarrassment.
Disappointing Tournament Performance Raises Concerns
India's campaign in the 12-team AFC Women's Asian Cup ended without a single victory, as the team lost all three group stage matches. The tournament offered six coveted spots for the next FIFA World Cup in Brazil, making India's early exit particularly painful for players and supporters alike.
The team began with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Vietnam, followed by a devastating 11-0 loss to former world champions Japan. In their final group match against Chinese Taipei, India had a chance to advance to the knockout stage with a win. Manisha Kalyan's spectacular free-kick briefly leveled the score, but the team ultimately fell 3-1, ending their tournament hopes.
Valanka Alemao Breaks Silence with Formal Complaint
Valanka Alemao, who also serves on the FIFA women's football committee, revealed that she had deliberately remained quiet during the tournament to avoid distracting the team. However, following India's elimination, she has now demanded accountability through a formal email to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey.
"After the team played and didn't qualify for the next stage, questions must be asked and answers sought from those responsible for the series of blunders concerning the team as it has caused huge embarrassment to the country," Alemao stated in her communication.
Questionable Coaching Appointments Under Scrutiny
Among Alemao's primary concerns is the process surrounding the appointment of head coach Amelia Valverde and her two assistants in January 2026, just six weeks before the Asian Cup tournament. The decision reportedly sidelined Crispin Chhetri without proper consultation with the executive committee or women's football committee.
"Why was the executive committee and AIFF women's football committee never consulted nor informed about certain decisions?" Alemao asked, emphasizing the lack of transparency in the selection process.
She further questioned whether proper procedures were followed, noting that the technical committee cleared the appointments without advertising for candidates or preparing a prospective list. According to Alemao, this approach potentially violates Article 71.3 of the AIFF constitution, which mandates transparent recruitment processes with notices posted on the federation's website.
Inadequate Preparation and Logistical Failures
India's preparation for the continental tournament appears to have been insufficient, with the team playing only three international friendlies against Iran and Nepal. The remainder of their preparation matches were against club sides, including one game that was stopped midway because the opposition proved too weak to provide meaningful competition.
The team also faced significant logistical challenges, most notably a kit fiasco where ill-fitting jerseys arrived just 48 hours before the opening match against Vietnam. "Two days before the first match, the players had to endure bizarre shocks," Alemao remarked, describing the last-minute uniform issues that disrupted final preparations.
Call for Systemic Reform to Protect Future Generations
Beyond addressing past failures, Alemao emphasized the need for systemic improvements to protect India's developing women's football programs. With the under-17 and under-20 teams having qualified for their respective Asian tournaments, she stressed the importance of ensuring younger players don't face similar challenges.
"We must ensure that the young girls will not have to endure all that the senior team members had to," Alemao asserted, calling for accountability and procedural reforms within the AIFF to prevent future embarrassments and better support India's women footballers at all levels.
