Bhaichung Bhutia calls Sunil Chhetri’s return a major setback for Indian football

Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia has criticized Sunil Chhetri’s decision to come out of retirement for the AFC 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, calling it a mistake for both the player and Indian football.

Chhetri, who last scored for India in March against the Maldives, failed to find the net during the campaign, which ended with a 1-2 home defeat to Singapore in Goa, resulting in India missing out on the continental tournament for the first time since the competition expanded to 24 teams in 2019.

Bhutia also suggested that senior goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu should consider stepping aside to allow the next generation of players to gain international experience.

“Sunil has had a fantastic career and a memorable farewell, but his comeback was a big mistake. It’s also time for senior players like Sunil and Gurpreet to call it a day. They’ve served Indian football well, but now the next generation has to take over,” Bhutia told PTI.

The former striker emphasized the need for India to shift focus from glamorous European football models to more realistic Asian examples, such as Uzbekistan and Jordan, which have achieved consistent success despite limited resources.

“We keep looking at Premier League or La Liga models, money and corporate structures, but football has to be about football. India should focus on how countries like Uzbekistan and Jordan have structured their leagues, produced players, and qualified regularly, even with modest resources,” Bhutia said.

He also highlighted the struggles of century-old Indian clubs like Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan, and East Bengal, arguing that financial mismanagement and over-commercialization threaten their survival and alienate passionate fan bases.

“Mohammedan Sporting, which has been around for over 100 years, is on the verge of shutting down. What happens to millions of fans who support these historic clubs? Clubs shouldn’t just be about valuations and sales. Look at Real Madrid or Barcelona — they operate through membership, not purely commercial ownership,” Bhutia added.

Bhutia described India’s failure to qualify for the Asia Cup as deeply disappointing and warned that without prioritizing sustainable development and nurturing young talent, Indian football remains far from its global ambitions.

“We talk about the World Cup and big goals, but if we can’t even qualify for the Asia Cup, then we are very far from where we need to be.”

He urged Indian football to build stronger domestic structures, develop players consistently, and focus on long-term planning rather than chasing glamour or immediate commercial gains.