Xavi had not really applied for the role of the head coach of the India National Football Team
Social media platforms, especially X/Twitter, and Reddit, are currently buzzing with a viral fake email, wherein a 19-year-old pranked the AIFF. Got confused as to what we are trying to talk about? Worry not, here’s the brief.
Earlier, reports emerged claiming that a teenager pranked the All India Football Federation, as he allegedly disguised himself as Xavi Hernandez.
AIFF pranked by 19 year old VIT Vellore student who sent fake mail applying as Xavi Hernandez for India national football team coach’s job
A 19-year-old student at VIT Vellore has claimed he pranked the AIFF by sending a hoax e-mail, impersonating as Spanish coach Xavi Hernandez, expressing interest in the vacant head coach role of men’s NT. [TTI] #90ndstoppage pic.twitter.com/DiVnZZc6Ah
— 90ndstoppage (@90ndstoppage) July 27, 2025
As per media reports, the AIFF received an email, allegedly meant for the position of Indian football team head coach. Seeing the email, the excited National team director told the media that the 45-year-old Barcelona legend wants to coach Indian team.
However, after the news went viral, a video surfaced on X, featuring that the email received by the AIFF was but a fake one.
It wasn’t Xavi who applied to coach India. It was a 19-year-old who used a fake email ID. I spoke to him and he showed me a screen recording from his Sent folder. Yes, this might’ve been the email AIFF thought came from Xavi.
Indian football deserves better.#IndianFootball #Xavi pic.twitter.com/MVJu6w4l1L— Naman Suri (@Namansuri03) July 25, 2025
What Did the National Team’s Director Subrata Paul Say?
After seeing the email, the excited director revealed to the media that Xavi did send them an application letter for the Head Coach position, however they denied it as they can’t afford him.
In his words, the 38-year-old former football player, and the current director told the media that, “Yes, Xavi’s name was there,” while adding that the e-mail was sent to the AIFF.
Did Xavi Really Send the Job Application?
As per the reports by various outlets and fact check sites, it wasn’t Xavi, who sent the job application to the Indian football team but a 19-year-old, who made a fake email id with the name “[email protected],” to send a fake job application.
The person who sent the email is just a 19-year-old college student and studies at the Vellore Institute of Technology, a private university in Tamil Nadu and used ChatGPT to create the email.
“I copy pasted the [ChatGPT] response and mailed it. I didn’t attach a CV or anything, but I think they saw the mail,” the student was quoted as saying.
The student was quoted as saying that he created a fake email id, [email protected], and gave a prompt to ChatGPT: “Write an email by Xavi Hernandez expressing his interest to coach the Indian football team.” He reportedly sent the email to the AIFF twice – on July 4 and 5.
I don't want to comment on how the Indian national football team is run, but this is the email address that fooled them into thinking Xavi had sent them a job application pic.twitter.com/3qoOeONptq
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) July 27, 2025
The video came to the spotlight after the European and Spanish media reported that Xavi never applied for the job under Indian football team. Meanwhile, various reports alleges that the AIFF intentionally used the name of Barcelona legend as they are searching for a manager for their vacant position.
For the curious, the Indian football team was under the tutelage of Spanish professional football manager, Manolo Marquez, who mutually parted his ways with the AIFF after only 8 games. Under the guidance of the 56-year-old, the Indian team won one match friendly international, against Maldives. Let us remind you, Manolo Marquez is currently the head coach of FC Goa.
A 19-year-old student at VIT Vellore has claimed that he sent the mail impersonating to be Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as a prank. pic.twitter.com/eEVuYmxESY
— Hari (@Harii33) July 27, 2025
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