The Houghton Issue Rages On

By T.N. Raghu

Baichung Bhutia and Bob Houghton

New Delhi, Apr 25 : Bob Houghton has ended his six-year tenure as Indian football team’s coach under unceremonious circumstances.

There is no doubt that the Englishman, who enjoyed the overwhelming support of the players, was forced to turn in his resignation.

The All-India Football Federation has got its wish fulfilled, but it hasn't covered itself in glory. In a clear quid pro quo arrangement, the AIFF decided to drop charges of racial abuse among others against Houghton in return for his signature on the dotted line.

The experienced coach, who was one of the youngest to earn an FA coaching badge in England, has his reputation to guard and the federation money to save. If the contract is terminated by mutual consent, the coach doesn't get much in compensation. Houghton's original contract runs until 2013.

The exit of Houghton turns the spotlight on the AIFF. The main accusation against Houghton is that he racially abused Indian referee Dinesh Nair during an international friendly last year. The news came to light right after the match but the AIFF chose to keep the matter under wraps so as not to disturb Houghton during Indian team’s preparations for the Asian Cup.

Now the AIFF has announced that the racial abuse charge has been dropped for lack of evidence.

The action of the AIFF has upset the refereeing community, which feels that Dinesh has been used as a tool in ‘Oust Houghton’ campaign. The coach has rubbished reports that he had abused the referee. Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri, Indian football’s biggest names, have come out in support of the beleaguered Englishman.

There would have been a cast-iron case against the Englishman if the match commissioner had forwarded the complaint of Dinesh to the AIFF. It is not clear whether the commissioner had indicted Houghton. The AIFF’s lack of transparency in this matter has given way to suspicion that it has made a mountain out of a molehill to see the back of Houghton.

Houghton’s tenure hasn’t been an unqualified success. But few can deny that he was instrumental in charting a professional course for the senior team. Apart from taking India to the Asian Cup after 27 years, Houghton also won the Nehru Cup twice. The players adore him. Bhutia has gone on record that he is the best coach he has played under.

It appears that the AIFF has been upset by Houghton’s criticism about the way the game is being run in India. The former Fulham player never pulled his punches while exposing the glaring lack of infrastructure in India. Chennai’s Nehru Stadium is the only Indian venue that conforms to international standards.

Houghton also pointed out that the poor scheduling of I-League matches. Even today 1.15pm and 2.30pm kickoffs are common in the I-League. Another spectacular failure of the AIFF is not getting a TV deal for the I-League this season. The AIFF can’t make Houghton a scapegoat for its failures and inadequacies.