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AIFF chief Kalyan Chaubey rejects “heckling” allegations by Valanka Alemao, who has now approached FIFA.
Kalyan Chaubey clapped back at Valanka Alemao’s allegations (X/AIFF)
Indian football just can’t be rid of controversy — and sadly, one can almost bet that it won’t let go of the same anytime soon.
Because what began as a boardroom disagreement has spiralled into a full-blown governance crisis.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey has finally responded to allegations of harassment and “heckling” levelled by Executive Committee member Valanka Alemao.
His response? Peak fight-or-flight behaviour.
“I want to know the meaning of ‘heckle’,” Chaubey said, questioning both the terminology and the intent behind the complaint.
Complaint Reaches FIFA
Alemao, who also serves on FIFA’s Women’s Development Committee, escalated the matter beyond India — writing to FIFA Ethics Committee chair Martin Ngoga and Women’s Football Committee head Laura Georges, seeking an inquiry under FIFA statutes.
“I am also exploring the possibility of taking up the issue at other important fora… to curb this tendency to harass and humiliate a woman member,” she wrote in her March 30 letter.
Her complaint stems from an Executive Committee meeting a day earlier, where she alleged Chaubey, Vice President N.A. Haris, and Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan made “unnecessary and disrespectful” remarks, raising their voices “beyond an acceptable decibel” to intimidate her.
“No Heckling, No Harassment”
Chaubey, however, dismissed the claims outright.
“There were 13 EC members in that boardroom… what is the meaning of heckle and what is ‘raising voice’?” he asked. “Is there a specific decibel described that you can speak in?”
He insisted no harassment or gender-based discrimination occurred, adding, “There’s no allegation against me. I don’t have to defend myself… there is no heckling, no harassment, no men, no women, and no different behaviour.”
ISL Angle Adds Fuel
But the controversy doesn’t end there. Satyanarayan suggested the dispute may be rooted in deeper tensions.
“This is an outburst of frustration,” he told Sports starsalleging that Alemao and her father, Churchill Alemao, had pushed for a “backdoor entry” into the Indian Super League.
The Alemao family owns Churchill Brothers, who recently lost the I-League title after the Court of Arbitration for Sport awarded points to Inter Kashi, dropping them to second place.
Satyanarayan further claimed Alemao repeatedly attempted to influence committee proceedings in favour of her club’s ISL inclusion.
(with IANS inputs)
March 31, 2026, 05:06 PM IST
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