Bhutia criticises AIFF after India withdraws from FIFA ASEAN Cup to face Brazil on October 3

Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia has criticised the All India Football Federation after it confirmed India had withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to instead focus on a friendly with Brazil scheduled for October 3 at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium. Bhutia accused AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey of misleading the government and questioned the priority given to the Brazil fixture.

The AIFF had initially agreed to take part in the ASEAN Cup, a tournament that was to feature India alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The ASEAN Cup was scheduled between September 21 and October 6, creating a clash with Brazil’s visit on October 3. AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayanan confirmed the federation could not accommodate both commitments, and officials abandoned an earlier plan to field a separate developmental squad. The Brazil match was officially announced last month and is expected to be a high-profile fixture for India.

Bhutia criticised the decision on financial grounds and cited a reported cost for the Brazil friendly in his comments. "Spending something between Rs 50 to 70 crores for one friendly against Brazil is uncalled-for...Especially when Indian football is currently going through so much of the financial crisis. Kalyan Chaubey is simply misleading the government."

He also questioned the allocation of resources relative to other sports and local athletes, referencing recent multi-sport results. "There wasn't even one athlete from Bengal who figured among India's medal winners in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games. The government should spend money on upcoming sportspersons and try building infrastructure. We would all love to watch Brazil, but not by paying such a large sum."

Bhutia had earlier raised broader concerns about the purpose of staging the Brazil friendly amid domestic instability and limited competitive fixtures. "I'm not saying they should not come, but at this point, given the condition of Indian football, what are we looking to achieve out of this match?" He added: "Jamshedpur FC closed (opted out of ISL), the teams are not going to the Asian Games, and our FIFA (men's) ranking is now almost 140."

The decision to withdraw from the ASEAN Cup means India will miss a chance to face several Southeast Asian sides in a FIFA-sanctioned competition. The move follows India’s failure to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and comes as the AIFF is understood to be exploring other friendlies around the same international window.

With Brazil already confirmed, the AIFF now appears set to use the window for high-profile friendlies, while Bhutia has questioned whether that is the best route for Indian football at this stage.