Bhaichung Bhutia has made his feelings clear about the upcoming international friendly between India and Brazil, set to be hosted by Kolkata. While the announcement of the match resulted in a lot of excitement among football fans in India, the former India captain thinks it will do more harm than good to Indian football.
Indian football star Baichung Bhutia has asked football fans in India to boycott the India-Brazil exhibition match scheduled to be played at Kolkata's iconic Salt Lake Stadium on October 3, 2026.
While five-time World Cup champion Brazil being invited to play a match against India on home soil is a dream come true for many football fans, Baichung thinks the crores of money spent on one match will do little to take Indian football forward.
The retired footballer sat down for an interview with YouTube Channel 420 Grams and clearly said, "Boycott that Brazil match. Then I think that is a big message. Then every organiser, every federation will think twice".
"If the Bengal government is going to pay or try and raise [money] for this match, please raise it for Bengal to have the next few gold medals in the Commonwealth Games", Baichung added.
According to reports, an approximate ₹60-70 crore could be required to host the match. Many former players and supporters have voiced their concern over such massive spending especially when Indian football desperately requires funding. The controversy regarding the friendly deepened when All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced that they will withdraw from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to concentrate on the game against Brazil.
Baichung Bhutia further said, "If the match happens, everybody is excited, fans come in, you know, media, the government, everybody will be happy. But once the match happens, your money is gone and your football is 20 years behind".
The former India captain also feel that Bengal football will immensely suffer because of the friendly, affecting Kolkata's historic clubs like East Bengal. "East Bengal will struggle because of Brazil. If ₹50 crore is gone from Bengal, East Bengal will have no investors and no sponsors for the next five years because the money is not there in the market, and clubs like East Bengal are going to suffer", he said.
The 49-year-old also talked about other Kolkata-based clubs, "Clubs like Mohammedan Sporting are going to suffer if ₹50 to ₹70 crore for one 90-minute match is going to go to Brazil".
At a time when football in India is struggling with funds and lacking in infrastructure, an India-Brazil spectacle feels like a luxury and Baichung Bhutia feels such a match will only undo the progress.
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