For many football enthusiasts in India, the chance to witness the
Despite the rising calls for a boycott, officials from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) have expressed indifference to the situation in India, affirming that their plans for the friendly match scheduled for October remain unchanged. A recent inspection of the pitch at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan by a CBF delegation raised concerns about the grass density, with reports suggesting it might pose injury risks to players. However, sources clarified that these concerns were routine and exaggerated, assuring that the match schedule would not be affected by the pitch conditions.
CBF Unfazed by Local Politics
The CBF has also dismissed the boycott calls as politically motivated, emphasizing that they are not altering their plans for the match. In light of India's withdrawal from the inaugural FIFA-ASEAN Cup to prioritize the friendly against Brazil, CBF representatives stated they were unaware of this decision and reiterated that the match would proceed as planned. The federation views the friendly as an opportunity to connect with Indian fans, who have shown unwavering support for the Brazilian team over the years.
Rodrigo Caetano, the coordinator for Brazil's national team, articulated the significance of the visit, highlighting it as a gesture of appreciation towards Indian supporters. "We will face Australia, who qualified from the group stage and were eliminated in the second round, but have shown great improvement. Against India, there's the technical aspect and a great deal of gratitude to the Indians, who showed enormous affection and support for the Brazilian National Team during the World Cup. So it's only fair that we go there as a way of thanking them, but also to put on a great performance," Caetano stated.
During the October international window, India is set to play three friendly matches. While the fixture against Brazil is confirmed, discussions are ongoing to finalize a second opponent, with Cape Verde being a potential candidate, and a third team yet to be determined.
