New Delhi: Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia has issued a strong call to football fans ahead of India’s much anticipated friendly against Brazil in Kolkata, urging them to boycott the match and questioning the decision to spend a huge amount on a single exhibition game.
India are scheduled to face five time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil at Salt Lake Stadium on October 3. Reports have estimated the overall cost of staging the high profile encounter at around ₹60 to ₹70 crore. The decision to prioritise the Brazil fixture has also drawn attention after the All India Football Federation opted to withdraw India from the FIFA ASEAN Cup.
Bhutia argued that the money could have a far greater impact if invested in developing Indian football infrastructure and supporting athletes over several years. He suggested that funds earmarked for the match could instead be used to create futsal facilities across Bengal or support athletes preparing for major international competitions.
The former India captain acknowledged that a match against Brazil would generate enormous excitement among fans, attract widespread media attention and create a major sporting spectacle. However, he questioned what Indian football would gain once the event was over.
According to Bhutia, spending tens of crores on a single 90 minute match does little to address the structural challenges facing Indian football. He called for greater investment in grassroots facilities, player development and long term sporting programmes that could produce athletes capable of winning medals at events such as the Commonwealth Games and Olympics.
Bhutia also argued that fans could send a powerful message by refusing to attend the Brazil friendly. In his view, a strong public response could force organisers and football authorities to reconsider how major sporting budgets are allocated.
While the Brazil clash promises to be one of India’s biggest football spectacles, Bhutia’s criticism has reignited the debate over whether limited resources should be directed toward short term events or long term development of Indian football.
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