Bhaichung Bhutia terms Sunil Chhetri’s comeback a wrong move for Indian football

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

Chhetri, who last scored for India in March against the Maldives, failed to make an impact during the campaign, which ended with a 1-2 defeat to Singapore in Goa, resulting in India missing the continental tournament for the first time since it expanded to 24 teams in 2019.

Bhutia also suggested that senior goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu should consider stepping aside to give the next generation of players a chance.

“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 that Indian football should move away from trying to replicate European football models and instead learn from Asian nations like Uzbekistan and Jordan, which have achieved consistent success with modest 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 limited resources,” Bhutia said.

Bhutia also pointed out the struggles of historic Indian clubs like Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan, and East Bengal, warning that commercialization and financial mismanagement threaten their survival and alienate fans.

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

Bhutia described India’s failure to qualify for the Asia Cup as deeply disappointing and said it highlights the gap between current performance and long-term 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.”