Bob Houghton: I am no racist

Still Indian national football coach Bob Houghton has made a statement and hit back at the AIFF that he is anything but a racist and reiterated that he would coach Team India in the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.

The AIFF has at its Executive Committee meeting earlier this week decided to try and terminate the contract of its English coach and as they would have to pay heavy compensation for a contract running until 2013 they are looking at legal ways to get rid of Bob. The allegation of racism against fourth official Dinesh Nair in the India vs Yemen friendly last October does come in handy.

Bob Houghton in a statement said, "Further to reports in the media that I made a racist remark to a fourth official last year, I wish to categorically deny that allegation."

"Furthermore, remarks made by former team manager Pradeep Chowdhury, are the exact opposite of his comments made at a dinner directly after the match, wherein front of my staff he called the official in question (Dinesh Nair) 'a bad man' and insisted I had said no such thing. My staff are prepared to confirm Chowdhury's comments when and if required."

"I would also like to point out that I have worked in international football at the highest level for 30 years before my arrival in India in 2006, having worked in Africa, China, the United States, Uzbekistan, the Middle East and in many European countries and staffed coaching courses for the AFC throughout Asia without any such nonsensical allegations being made."

"I have no doubt that all the players and staff that I have worked with in India would confirm that I do not have a racist bone in my body and have treated all of them with the utmost respect. The only exception would be Pradeep Chowdhury, who walked out of his position as National Team manager just prior to the Asian Cup 2011 after an argument with me. I refer those who would wish to see a reflection of this man's standing among the Indian Team members to the FPAI (Football Players Association of India) website directly after his walkout."

Bob had also heavily criticised the AIFF, its functioning and the lack of infrastructure in Indian football repeatedly during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. This has also not gone down too well with the Indian football authorities.

About these statements Bob added, "Regarding the other allegation regarding my criticism of the AIFF during the Asian Cup, my comments were limited only to facilities for football in India. They reflect exactly the comments made by Asian Football Confederation President Mohammed Bin Hamman on a visit to India during my time as head coach, when he described India as '100 years behind' other Asian countries."