All the 23 national footballers and support staff, who were in Doha for the Asian Cup, have sent a signed letter to AIFF president Praful Patel, saying Houghton did not use racially abusive language against Indian referee Dinesh Nair, and all the allegations against him are false.
The Englishman will take charge of the national team on June 20.
The controversy surrounding India football coach Bob Houghton's resignation is finally over with the Briton himself announcing on Wednesday that he has struck a deal with the AIFF to continue till 2013.
Reader Abhilash Jaiswal sent us this photograph from New Delhi.
India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia threw his weight behind national coach Bob Houghton, saying the Briton did not make any racist comment against referee Dinesh Nair and his allegation was "false".
India football captain Baichung Bhutia believes the Englishman is the best coach the team has had for a long time and he should be given a second tenure. Houghton's three-year contract expires in May 2009 but Baichung wants the widely respected former Fulham midfielder to be given another tenure as his continuation will only "help Indian football."
Despite Sunil Chhetri's none-too-impressive outing, national football team coach Bob Houghton backed the US-returned striker moments after India registered a convincing win over Namibia in an international friendly at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday.
National football team coach Bob Houghton on Wednesday compared Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia with legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar for the influence they have on their respective team-mates "on and off the field".
Star striker Bhaichung Bhutia, who said he would quit international football, joined the national camp in Kolkata.
India's English football coach Bob Houghton says if Bhutia is fit and available he will always be in his team.
National coach Bob Houghton has quit following a tiff with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) over the extension of his contract, according to sources.
The India coach is hoping that the striker would be available for the August 16 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.
All India Football Federation president, Praful Patel on Tuesday dismissed reports that national coach Bob Houghton has put in his papers after being shoddily treated by the AIFF.
As per the blueprint submitted to the All India Football Federation, India's football team coach wants tournaments like the century-old Durand Cup to be played during the pre-season between July and August, so that teams can use it as a preparatory ground ahead of the I-League's September start.
Experienced Englishman Bob Houghton's tumultuous yet productive five-year stint as Indian football coach came to an end on Saturday in controversial circumstances after a bitter stand-off with the AIFF, which had charged him for racially abusing an Indian referee.
India coach Bob Houghton conceded his team was lucky to earn a point against defending AFC Challenge Cup champions Tajikistan in Group A on Friday. "In some ways you could say that we were lucky," said Englishman Houghton. "The early goal for Tajikistan surprised us and when we went into the attack we were vulnerable at the back.'
Bob Houghton is set to be appointed India's football coach ahead of former Ireland boss Brian Kerr
Much against the wishes of national football coach Bob Houghton, the next edition of the I-League will feature 12 teams.
India's new football coach said Baichung Bhutia's absence provides the new players an opportunity to prove themselves.
Having achieved his task of putting India back on the radar of Asian football, national coach Bob Houghton has now set sights on the qualifiers of the 2012 London Olympics, set to kick-off in 2010. 'Bob the Builder' has already identified some potential players and is hopeful that the I-League will throw up some more promising youngsters for the Olympic team.
A post by striker Sunil Chhetri on social networking site Twitter in support of national coach Bob Houghton in the ongoing racial abuse case has irked the All India Football Federation.
Indian football coach Bob Houghton said the country had to do away with outdated tournaments and focus on development of the game.
National coach Bob Houghton termed India's AFC Challenge Cup victory as the culmination of a determined effort by his charges and the football establishment to reach the Asian elite stage. By winning Asia's second tier tournament after a 4-1 thrashing of defending champions Tajikistan, India qualified for the 2011 Asian Cup. Houghton said his charges were the deserving winners.
Unhappy with the performance of the Indian football team in the Asian Cup, the AIFF executive committee on Wednesday decided to sack national coach Bob Houghton, but has sought legal opinion keeping in mind an imminent contract tangle with the Briton.
All India Football Federation president Praful Patel on Friday conceded there were "certain issues" between AIFF and Bob Houghton but asserted that the Englishman remains the national coach and will guide the team in next year's Asian Cup in Doha.
India's football captain says Bob Houghton is the best coach he's played under.
His contract runs till 2013 after a recent renewal but India football coach Bob Houghton has hinted that he may quit if his side does not produce a good show at the 2011 Asian Cup.
India football coach Bob Houghton denied the racial abuse charges leveled against him by the All India Football Federation, terming them 'baseless', in a written submission made before a three-member panel of the national federation.
The Indian football team takes the field for the first time under the guidance of new English coach Bob Houghton when it meets a local club side at the Vancouver Whitecaps Nations Cup in Vancouver on Wednesday.
India's football coach Bob Houghton lamented that India could not maintain a high level of play in their AFC Cup qualifying match against Saudi Arabia.
India ended their Asian Cup campaign after losing all their three matches but coach Bob Houghton vowed the country will come back tronger in the next edition in 2015 having gained rich experience after playing in the continent's biggest stage for the first time in 27 years.
National coach Bob Houghton on Wednesday said time has come for India to start building world class football stadium and then bid for 2022 World Cup if the country wants to lift the profile of the game, just like United States did after 1994.
Despite pocketing crucial three points, India coach Bob Houghton was displeased with the profligacy of his forward line against Bangladesh in the ONGC Nehru Cup football tournament in Delhi on Monday.
India coach Bob Houghton has advised striker Sunil Chhetri to first play in continental Europe and then think of plying his trade in England.
India football coach Bob Houghton heaped praise on his charges for their "immense desire to win" in difficult conditions. India rode on an 82nd minute goal by striker Sunil Chhetri to beat Myanmar 1-0 and book a berth in the final of the of the eight-nation AFC Challenge Cup tournament, the winner of which will qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup.
National football coach Bob Houghton on Thursday virtually ruled out any IPL-style football event in India, saying such a concept is not possible because of the exorbitant money involved in buying an international player.
Retiring India football captain Sunil Chhetri's sheer hard work, passion and professionalism made him different from other players of his generation as he went on to become an iconic player, feels his former skipper Bhaichung Bhutia.
Football was not very close to Sunil Chhetri's heart during his days as a bubbly teenager with proclivity for pranks. He was only looking to use the sport as a vehicle to gain entry to a reputed college and continue his education.
Unveiling Sunil Chhetri's hidden side: From troublemaker to inspirational captain!
Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia remains a doubtful starter ahead of their Friday's match against Bahrain in the Asian Cup football tournament as he has still not recovered completely from his calf muscle injury, coach Bob Houghton said.
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