Kolkata, AIFF pull out all stops for India vs Brazil but crowd stays away
In many ways, it was a historic occasion. Brazil hadn't faced a team as lower ranked than India in 28 years. India hadn't gone up against a team as higher ranked as Brazil since rankings were introduced in August 1993. It helps significantly that Kolkata raves over Brazil (and Argentina).
Kolkata hosted Brazil's first-ever match on Indian soil, but despite the historic occasion, the crowd stayed away. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and West Bengal government went above and beyond to make the event special. Around 2,000 policemen, over 400 volunteers, and 100 temporary cameras were present to ensure safety.
However, the empty seats outnumbered the audience, with Bengal fans preferring Durga Puja celebrations over football. The AIFF spent over Rs 56 crore to bring Brazil, Uruguay, and Panama to India, but the high ticket prices and Durga Puja's proximity deterred fans. Despite the absence of stars like Neymar, the event was expected to attract a larger crowd during winter or after Durga Puja.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
