Indian football exits ASEAN Cup for Brazil friendly match | ‘Indian football is already in ICU’: AFC Cup exit for Brazil friendly signals ‘dark days ahead’
Indian football greats Bhaishung Bhutia and Mehtab Hossain have questioned the AIFF’s decision to withdraw from the maiden edition of the FIFA AFC Cup to prioritize a high-profile friendly against Brazil, while Dibyendu Biswas believes India could have participated in both matches by sending the Under-23 team to the regional tournament.
Questioning the reported spending of Rs 50-70 crore on the Brazil friendly, Bhutia minced no words and said: “If Brazil is coming for free to play a free friendly, I have no problem with it. But paying Rs 50-70 crore to Brazil to come and play a friendly in India at this moment is not the right timing. The timing is absolutely wrong.”
In a sharp attack, he also accused AIFF president Kalyan Choubey and the federation’s leadership of “completely misleading the government”.
“Why would you want to pay Rs 50-70 crore at this moment when ISL clubs are shutting down, club by club, and I-League clubs are struggling to pay entry fees?” he asked during a conversation with PTI.
The criticism comes at a difficult time for Indian football clubs, with the Indian Super League season postponed last year and Tata Steel exiting Jamshedpur FC on Friday, transferring ownership of the club to Churchill Brothers for a nominal sum of Rs 100.
“Such a bad decision”
India accepted FIFA’s invitation to participate in the new AFC Asian Cup and were placed in Group A of the First Division alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
But with the tournament dates (September 21 – October 6) clashing with Brazil’s friendly match at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 3, the Blue Tigers decided to withdraw.
“We have such a great tournament, which is a FIFA recognized event which is probably an event every two to four years, and to miss all of that just to play a friendly match and pay Rs 50-70 crore – that’s very bad timing,” Bhutia said.
“You have a federation that is struggling with money at the moment, and then the AIFF wants to pay an upfront fee to Brazil from that amount. I think it is a very bad decision.”
It is also important to note that the AFC Cup, which includes teams such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, would have provided India with a more significant competitive test.
He said: “It is a tournament recognized by FIFA and includes teams such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, who beat us in the Asian and World Cup qualifiers.”
“Brazil can always come. Argentina, Spain and France can always come and play in India when they pay that much money. You can convince any team to come and play, but right now I think the timing is wrong.”
Dipendu proposes a solution for under-23s
Former India striker Dibyendu Biswas said the AIFF could have sent the Under-23 team to the Asia Cup while allowing the senior team to face Brazil.
“Playing against Brazil would have been a big opportunity for India. The AIFF could have easily fielded the Under-23 team because they are a strong team and playing well,” Biswas said. Telegraph Online.
“The first team to play against Brazil would have been beneficial for Indian football, but the Under-23 players would also have gained valuable fame and confidence. The AIFF should have considered this option.”
“This is just an eyewash.”
Former Indian midfielder Mehtab Hussain supported Bhutia and accused the AIFF of trying to hide the deeper problems affecting Indian football.
“Everything Bhaichung said was true. Why spend Rs 50-70 crore to bring Brazil when clubs are closed? Today, we learned that Jamshedpur FC has been sold. Bringing Brazil will not develop Indian football overnight,” Hussain said. Telegraph Online.
“This is like putting a band-aid on the real problems and trying to keep everyone happy. The AIFF could have spent this money on development. The India Under-23 team is a strong team, and this move by the AIFF is just fooling people. It’s just an eyewash.”
“The AIFF is ignoring the backbone of Indian football. We are talking about qualifying for the World Cup, but we should focus on competing in Asia first. Look at Japan, Iran and Iraq. They did not start by bringing Brazil. They developed football first at the grassroots level.”
“This is poor planning by the AIFF and will only set Indian football backwards. Indian football is already in the ICU, with clubs closed, while the AIFF remains busy polishing its image.
“We need a scientific approach to developing young players. There must be greater emphasis on sports science and nutrition, especially for children between the ages of eight and 14.
“The AIFF president should seriously think about what Indian football will gain by bringing Brazil here. What is the bigger plan? Look at the state of Indian football. We still don’t know when the Indian Super League will start.
He concluded his speech by saying, “I have no idea who is presenting these ideas to AIFF President Kalyan Choubey. There are dark days ahead for everyone associated with Indian football.”
