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.
Reader Abhilash Jaiswal sent us this photograph from New Delhi.
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.
The Englishman will take charge of the national team on June 20.
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!
The All India Football Federation is exploring the possibility of selecting Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) for the Indian football team.
Veteran striker Sunil Chhetri will be spearheading the Indian challenge and besides his longtime teammate Sandeep Jhingan, he will also be able to avail the services of Chinglensana Singh and Lalchungnunga.
Chhetri has played for India 142 times and has scored 92 goals, the most by an Indian. He is also currently the third most prolific scorer in international football among active players, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The AIFF will announce the appointment of former Dutch international Wim Koevermans as the Indian football coach besides discussing issues concerning hosting of the Nehru Cup during its executive committee meeting in New Delhi.
The budget constraints notwithstanding, the All India Football Federation is looking for a technical director whose profile is bigger than former national coach Bob Houghton, according to AIFF officials.
Former Dutch international Wim Koevermans is all set to take over as the chief coach of the Indian football team for a two-year term, ending a more than a year's search for a full-fledged occupant for the top job.
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 All India Football Federation (AIFF) has promoted Savio Medeira as the coach of Indian team, till the expiry of his contract in May 2012.
The influence of iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar transcends any sport in India and national football captain Bhaichung Bhutia says he draws inspiration from him to bring laurels for the country.
As the Indian football team gears up to lock horns with German giants Bayern Munich in Bhaichung Bhutia's farewell match, Climax Lawrence feels former coach Bob Houghton has instilled enough confidence in the side to take on any opposition.
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".
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.
With national coach Bob Houghton reportedly disagreeing with the proposal of India playing friendlies against African sides, All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Emergency Committee could not finalise the schedule for the India's international matches that were due to be played in the next two.
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.
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 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".
Dempo have refused to release Joaquim Abranches after they were requested by the AIFF to send him for the national camp in Dubai less than 15 days prior to the Asian Cup 2011.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has taken strong exception to the outbursts by Dempo's striker Joaquim Abranches and Viva Kerala's midfielder N P Pradeep against the national body.
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.
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.
Despite losing 0-4 to Australia, India earned respect for their doggedness from their formidable opponents who said Bob Houghton's wards deserved to be in the Asian Cup football tournament, the continent's biggest football event.
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.
The Indian football team will play against Qatar and Syria on December 19 and 26 respectively in what will be their last two international friendlies in the lead upto the Asian Cup in January next year.
The AIFF dropped as many as 13 senior players who were part of the 23-member squad for the Asian Cup in Qatar early this year. Most of the youngsters, who were part of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifying tournament in Malaysia, were named in the probables' list.
Described as a "nonsensical" tournament by national coach Bob Houghton, Santosh Trophy will not feature any member of the Indian senior football team this year.
Lack of international matches and two recent losses to Thailand have hit India hard. Bob Houghton's side plunged 22 places and now occupy the 160th spot in the latest FIFA rankings.
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.
Team manager Pradeep Chowdhury's out-of-the-blue decision to part ways with the Indian football squad has not gone down well with national players, who are preparing in Dubai for the Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Doha from January 7.
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.
Coach Bob Houghton feels defending champions India will be the team to beat in the Nehru Cup football tournament which gets underway in Delhi on August 19.
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.
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.
Injury will keep India's key players out of the match against Afghanistan in the AFC Challenge Cup in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
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