Seventytwo hours after Igor Stimac tore into the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its president Kalyan Chaubey, the federation on Monday accused the ousted national team coach of making attempts to show the country’s football fraternity in a bad light in international circles.

The federation had earlier said it would reply to all the harsh words the Croat had said in 48 hours.

In the lengthy yet to-the-point statement, the AIFF said excuses and failures had become emblematic of Stimac’s tumultuous five-year tenure.

The federation claimed it left no stone unturned in its efforts to provide the coach with everything he had asked for to lift the team’s performance.

The AIFF said Stimac’s sole intention in calling last Friday’s news conference, four days after his sacking, was to malign the federation.

“This conduct (by Stimac) has only reinforced the AIFF’s belief that the right decision was made, with just cause, to terminate his contract and move forward in the interests of Indian football,” the AIFF said in the statement.

Stimac had said the stress over Indian football affected his health as he was required to undergo a procedure to treat a heart condition.

The AIFF expressed shock at this claim. “He has irresponsibly blamed the AIFF for causing his heart ailment, attempting to deflect the serious matter of his not having been medically fit to render coaching services and his failure to formally disclose the same to the AIFF.

“It is ironic that someone who was the prime person controlling the fortunes of the national team considers that Indian football is imprisoned and has not grown.

“It is fashionable to blame the entire system on the way out, especially when you do not wish to take any personal responsibility.”

Stimac had said the sooner Chaubey left the post, the better it would be for the future of football in the country.

“Mr. Stimac was given full autonomy to function... His specific requests, especially for various support staff of his choice, were always supported by the AIFF,” the federation said in its defence.

Stimac’s contract was terminated following the team’s failure to reach the third round of the Fifa World Cup Qualifiers.

An irate Stimac, who has threatened to file a lawsuit against the federation in the Fifa Tribunal if his outstanding dues ($360,000) were not cleared within 10 days, said Indian football is “imprisoned” and blamed Chaubey for most of the problems.