Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Indian men’s football team captain Sandesh Jhingan has raised serious concerns about the huge amount of money spent on Lionel Messi’s high-profile ‘GOAT Tour’ in India. In a strong and emotional Instagram post, Jhingan questioned the logic of spending crores on a three-day exhibition tour when Indian football is struggling to survive. He said the situation has made him wonder if anyone truly cares about investing in the future of football in the country.
The Messi tour created massive excitement across India, with large crowds gathering in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. Fans paid very high ticket prices just to catch a glimpse of the football legend, along with stars like Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez. While the public response showed a deep love for football, Jhingan said it also exposed the country’s priorities, especially at a time when domestic football competitions are not even running.
Jhingan pointed out that Indian football is currently going through one of its hardest phases. He said there is a real risk of the entire system coming to a halt, with no active domestic football on the calendar. Both the Indian Super League and the I-League have not started, and there is still no official broadcast partner in place. According to him, this lack of structure and support is pushing the sport closer to shutdown.
The defender said the situation clearly shows a painful reality for Indian players. He explained that while people in India love football and are willing to spend lakhs to watch international stars, the same support is missing for local players and leagues. In his words, the country may love the sport, but not enough to stand behind its own footballers.
The Kolkata leg of the tour also faced controversy when chaos broke out at Salt Lake Stadium. Many fans complained that despite paying high prices, they could not properly see Messi, who stayed on the field for only a short time and was surrounded by a large group that included political figures. The situation worsened, leading to confusion and later the arrest of organiser Shatadru Datta.
Reflecting on the entire episode, Jhingan said he was happy to see packed stadiums and strong public interest in football. However, he added that the sharp contrast with the poor condition of Indian football left him deeply troubled. He accepted criticism of the national team’s performances but stressed that results cannot be separated from the system behind them.
Jhingan explained that football does not function alone and depends heavily on structure, stability, and long-term belief. Without proper planning and investment, players cannot be expected to deliver strong results on the field. Despite his frustration, he ended on a hopeful note, saying Indian football has seen good days before and can rise again if the right steps are taken.
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