Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia on Friday questioned the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) decision to pull out of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to prioritise a high-profile friendly against Brazil, saying the reported R50-70 crore expenditure on the marquee fixture was difficult to justify at a time when the country’s club football is grappling with a financial crisis.

India will face the record five-time world champions in a friendly slated to be played in Kolkata on October 3, with the AIFF choosing the invitational fixture over participation in the FIFA ASEAN Cup — a tournament where strong regional sides such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore will offer India a more meaningful competitive environment — following a scheduling clash.