Brazil game can't mask Indian football's crisis: Bhutia says 'timing is a problem'

NEW DELHI: The announcement of a glamour friendly between India and Brazil should have been a moment of celebration for Indian football. Instead, it has exposed the widening gap between spectacle and substance, prompting former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia to question both the timing and the purpose of the high-profile fixture.“The timing of the Brazil friendly is a problem for me,” Bhutia said, pointing out that India will be involved in the FIFA ASEAN Cup around the same period. “The FIFA ASEAN Cup will be taking place at that time and we don’t know how the national team will be formed.” His concerns are difficult to dismiss. India, ranked 138th in the world, have been drawn alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in the ASEAN Cup, a tournament where only the group winner advances.With qualification already a challenging prospect, diverting attention towards an exhibition match raises legitimate questions about priorities.