Rs 10 Lakh For Messi, But Indian Football Still Has No Answers

Rs 10 lakh can get you a photo with Lionel Messi in India right now.

Transcript

00:00Rs. 10 lakh can get you a photo with Lionel Messi in India right now.

00:07The football icon is already in India and meeting him up close comes at a jaw-dropping price.

00:13Rs. 10 lakh for a single meet and greet pass.

00:16What it cannot get is clarity on when Indian football will resume.

00:22A 3-day worldwide Messi co-tour promising glamour, access and power.

00:26And his visit comes at a moment when Indian football is arguably at its lowest point in recent history.

00:33The All India Football Federation has failed to secure sponsors and broadcasters for the Indian Super League.

00:39It is mid-December and there is still no clarity on when the country's top football

00:43competition will resume, if it happens at all.

00:51While the domestic game struggles to survive, Messi's calendar is packed.

00:55During his stay, he is meeting three chief ministers, the prime minister,

00:59and a long list of Bollywood celebrities and business heavyweights.

01:02It has little space for Indian footballers.

01:06According to initial reports, former India captain Sunil Chhetri,

01:10the fourth highest goalscorer in international football, had been invited to meet Messi.

01:15Chhetri reportedly declined, indicating that such a meeting would not serve any real purpose for Indian

01:20football.

01:21Then came a U-turn.

01:23Chhetri and Messi are now set to meet in Mumbai on December 14.

01:26It is learned that this has happened due to political pressure and will remain a one-off.

01:34So, what does it say about Indian football when the greatest player of all time is here?

01:38Rupees 10 lakh can buy access.

01:40But the sport itself still cannot find direction.