The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has run into controversy after Ranjit Bajaj decided not to take up the role of manager of India’s U-15 football team, just hours after his appointment was announced.
Bajaj, the owner of Minerva Academy, said he was surprised by the announcement because AIFF had not informed him before making his appointment public.
Speaking to India Today, Bajaj said he first learned about the appointment when people started calling and congratulating him. Journalists also contacted him for his reaction, even though he had received no official communication from the federation.
Bajaj said he eventually contacted AIFF officials himself to confirm whether the announcement was true. According to him, officials then confirmed the appointment and told him that an official letter would be sent.
Bajaj Questions AIFF’s Handling
Bajaj said his main concern was not the position itself but the way the federation handled the appointment.
He questioned how AIFF could publicly announce someone for an important national team role without first discussing the appointment with that person. He said such decisions and communication problems were hurting Indian football.
Bajaj later posted a video on social media indicating that he was unlikely to accept the position.
No Problem With Coach Bibiano Fernandes
Bajaj made it clear that his decision was not because of India U-15 head coach Bibiano Fernandes.
He said he respects Fernandes and his contribution to Indian youth football. However, Bajaj questioned the logic of putting them together when they have different working styles and have never worked with each other’s coaching teams.
Bajaj said he would have been required to work with Fernandes’ existing support staff rather than the team he has developed at Minerva Academy over the years.
Explaining the difference in their working styles, Bajaj compared the situation to putting football managers Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola together. He clarified that he was not comparing their stature, but only highlighting how different working methods could create difficulties.
Questions Over AIFF’s Planning
The controversy has raised questions about how AIFF planned the appointment.
Bajaj has become a prominent voice in Indian football and has frequently raised questions about the administration of the sport. His Minerva Academy youth teams have won several AIFF Youth League titles and performed well at international tournaments including the Gothia Cup, Mediterranean International Cup and Dana Cup. The academy has also produced players who have represented India at youth and senior levels.
Bibiano Fernandes, meanwhile, has been an important part of India’s youth football system. He has guided Indian teams to several SAFF youth titles and helped the country qualify for four AFC youth tournaments.
The decision to bring Bajaj and Fernandes together was therefore seen by some as an attempt to combine grassroots experience with continuity in the national youth setup.
However, Bajaj’s decision to step away has instead raised questions about communication and planning within AIFF.
Bajaj Raises Concern Over World Cup Preparation
Bajaj also questioned the timing of the appointment, with the FIFA U-15 World Cup scheduled to begin in October.
He argued that only a few months remain to scout players, develop combinations and properly prepare the team for such a major tournament.
According to Bajaj, youth football requires long-term planning and a World Cup team cannot be properly built just two months before the competition.
For Bajaj, the controversy is not simply about whether he becomes the manager of the India U-15 team. He believes it reflects a larger problem in the way Indian football is being managed.
What was expected to bring together two well-known figures in Indian youth football has instead created fresh questions about AIFF’s decision-making, communication and preparations for the upcoming U-15 World Cup.
