SAFF Championship 2023: Will Igor Stimac miss the final?

The India head coach will sit out the semi-final against Lebanon.

Indian national football team head coach Igor Stimac, who is currently suspended from the touchline for the SAFF Championship 2023 semi-final against Lebanon, is set to miss the final as well after the SAFF General Secretary Anwarul Haq decided on a two-match ban and a monetary fine of $500 for the Croatian. India progressed to the knockout stages, finishing second behind Kuwait in Group A.

The Blue Tigers have been on an impressive unbeaten run, and the players are playing with a certain swagger and style that has helped the team climb up the rungs of the FIFA Rankings to 100th. Defensively, India have built a bedrock of solidity in the form of center-back pairing Anwar Ali and Sandesh Jhingan, however the latter is suspended for the clash against Lebanon for accumulating two yellow cards.

Back-to-back red cards put Stimac in a bind

Often a very vocal and animated figure on the touchline, the 2023 SAFF Championship has seen Stimac lose his cool on more than one occasion. In India's opening match against Pakistan, he disrupted a player taking a throw in, to which he received a straight red card after both sets of players needed separating following a tussle.

He served a one-match ban in the 2-0 win against Nepal, as assistant coach Mahesh Gawli took charge. Stimac returned against Kuwait and was banished to the stands once more, after picking up two yellow cards following protests to decisions. While Mahesh Gawli brandished the refereeing as poor, there were some harsh words exchanged between both dugouts during the final Group A clash.

SAFF Disciplinary Committee hands Stimac a two-match ban

The decision to hand Stimac an extended ban will see the head coach play no further part in the SAFF Championship. The committee have slapped a $500 fine on both coach Stimac and player Rahim Ali, who also was sent off against Kuwait.

While Stimac has let the heat of the moment get the better of him, you could understand his outlook for protesting the decisions, as the India vs Kuwait saw many rough challenges go unpunished, and there was constant chatter between the Kuwait players, coaches, and the India dugout.