# Bajaj rejects AIFF role again after U-turn over Fernandes 2026-08-12T18:52:10+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Ranjit Bajaj has rejected the team manager role for India's U-15 World Cup festival campaign barely a day after initially accepting it, Times Now News reports. Bajaj's second U-turn came after coach Bibiano Fernandes accepted the head coach position, which Bajaj had earlier turned down. A senior AIFF Executive Committee member criticised Bajaj, saying he applies for jobs despite constantly attacking the federation. The committee member questioned Bajaj's record, noting that his academy's international youth tournament wins come against second-string sides from European clubs. Bajaj said he refused because he and Fernandes have conflicting philosophies that would confuse the players. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com Tags: AIFF, Bibiano Fernandes, Indian football, Minerva Academy, Ranjit Bajaj, U-15 World Cup Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bajaj-rejects-aiff-role-again-after-u-turn-over-fernandes/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bajaj-rejects-aiff-role-again-after-u-turn-over-fernandes/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.