All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey has been accused of harassment and intimidation by Valanka Alemao, head of the federation’s Women’s Committee, following an Executive Committee meeting at the Football House in New Delhi on 29 March 2026.
Alemao alleges that Chaubey, along with Vice‑President N. A. Haris and Deputy Secretary‑General M. Satyanarayan, targeted her with “unnecessary and disrespectful” remarks and raised their voices against her during deliberations, attempting to suppress her voice. The row comes amid broader governance tensions within Indian football and has sparked demands for greater accountability.
Meanwhile, Churchill Brothers FC Goa the club where Alemao is CEO has formally asked AIFF’s ethics and dispute resolution committee to investigate a possible conflict of interest involving Chaubey. AIFF has not yet issued a formal public statement on these new allegations.
Allegations of Harassment and Breakdown at AIFF Meeting
The controversy stems from an AIFF Executive Committee meeting held on 29 March in the national capital, where Valanka Alemao alleges she was “heckled and harassed” by senior officials including the federation’s president.
In a formal letter addressed to members of the Executive Committee, Alemao said: “I wish to place on record the entirely disgusting behaviour of the AIFF President Mr Kalyan Chaubey, Vice President Mr N. A. Haris and Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan. I feel deeply prejudiced and I found that several attempts were made by the President to suppress my voice.” She further claimed that Chaubey and the deputy secretary‑general raised their tone “beyond an acceptable decibel with the intention to intimidate me.”
The meeting itself was convened to discuss internal matters and ongoing issues facing the federation, but Alemao’s allegations have taken centre stage, eclipsing most other agenda points. According to reports, the tone of the interaction was tense, with Alemao insisting on greater consultation and transparency in decision‑making particularly on matters affecting women’s football while the AIFF leadership pushed back against her criticisms.
While Alemao’s letter has circulated among Exco members, the AIFF has so far remained silent in public on the specifics of the harassment claim, raising concerns about transparency. Insiders say an internal response may be drafted, but no official press release has been issued as of the latest reports.
Governance, Women’s Football Conflict
The dispute between Alemao and Chaubey did not emerge in isolation. It is rooted in deeper governance issues that have plagued the AIFF in recent times. Earlier, Alemao had raised strong concerns about the federation’s handling of the India Women’s National Team’s campaign at the Women’s Asian Cup, citing administrative lapses and a lack of proper consultation with relevant committees. She highlighted issues from team logistics to broader questions of transparency in decision‑making.
Alemao is a notable figure in Indian football. Aside from heading the AIFF Women’s Committee, she is the CEO of Churchill Brothers FC Goa, an established club in the I‑League, and has the distinction of being one of the first Indians appointed to FIFA’s Women’s Football Development Committee for the 2025-29 term a milestone for women’s representation in global football governance.
Tensions have been building for months between Alemao and other AIFF stakeholders. Last month, Churchill Brothers FC formally petitioned the AIFF’s ethics and dispute resolution committee to investigate whether Chaubey’s actions and positions constitute a conflict of interest under the federation’s own governance rules. The request signals a significant escalation, reflecting not just personal discord but institutional unease with the current leadership’s conduct and decision‑making processes.
Observers note that this conflict comes at a time when fans and clubs alike have criticised the AIFF over issues such as club participation in the Indian Super League, structural integration of domestic football, and inclusivity in administrative decisions. Such disputes have amplified perceptions of a centralised and opaque decision‑making culture within the federation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This episode is symptomatic of a larger governance crisis within Indian football that threatens both credibility and inclusivity. At a time when women’s sport is finally gaining traction and respect, allegations of harassment by a senior official especially one tasked with overseeing football administration are deeply troubling. Moreover, calls for an ethics probe into conflict of interest underscore the importance of transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity in sports governance.
While internal disagreements are natural in any organisation, especially one as complex as a national sports federation, the manner in which dissent is addressed with dignity, fairness and a commitment to dialogue is equally important. Indian football cannot afford to alienate its administrators, clubs, athletes and fans at a moment when the sport is striving to grow both on the field and off it.
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