Ranjit Bajaj Set to Reject India U-15 World Cup Role

The All India Football Federation’s plan to strengthen India’s U-15 setup has hit a snag within hours of being unveiled. Ranjit Bajaj, owner of Minerva Academy, has decided not to take up the position of team manager for India’s U-15 side at the FIFA U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, despite being named to the role by the federation.

Appointment Made Without Consultation

The move came after prolonged discussion around the direction of India’s youth football programme. Bibiano Fernandes continued as head coach, while the AIFF brought Bajaj on board as manager, seemingly aiming to pair one of Indian football’s most outspoken grassroots figures with the existing coaching setup. However, Bajaj told India Today that he learned of his own appointment only through outside calls, and that the federation had not reached out to him beforehand.

Bajaj Says He Was Blindsided

According to Bajaj, he was caught completely off guard, learning about the decision only when people began contacting him to ask if the news was true — with no prior communication from AIFF officials.

The episode has raised fresh questions about coordination within the AIFF’s youth football operations, coming at a time when the federation is under scrutiny over its broader development plans. With the World Cup approaching, the federation will now need to address the fallout and decide on its next move for the team management role, as Bajaj appears unlikely to reconsider his position.