Bhutia removed as AIFF advisor in December: Source

Out of favour with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) due to differences in opinion, former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia is no longer advisor to both the AIFF and President Praful Patel.

In fact, India's most decorated footballer was removed from the post last December, a source close to the development has revealed to IANS on Sunday.

Bhutia was roped in as advisor two years back and has since then been instrumental in bringing India coach Stephen Constantine back and also extending his contract till February 2018.

"But he was removed from the position of technical advisor to Praful Patel in the month of December," the source said.

"His contract has not been renewed," he added.

Whether Bhutia will also cease to be chairman of the AIFF Technical Committee will be decided in the executive committee meeting to be held later this month.

Bhutia, it was also learnt, wanted Colm Toal to take over as the India U-17 World Cup team coach after Nicolai Adam was shown the door. But the AIFF decided to pencil in Portuguese Luis Norton de Matos instead.

--IANS

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