Govt won’t fund proposed Brazil-Bangladesh friendly match, says sports state minister

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The government is not currently willing to allocate funds for a proposed friendly match between Brazil and Bangladesh, State Minister for Sports Aminul Haque said on Tuesday.

The five-time World Cup champions have expressed interest in playing a friendly against Bangladesh in Dhaka in October. Hosting the match would require the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to bear significant expenses.

The BFF said recently that it may seek government assistance to meet the costs. However, Aminul Haque said the government was not in a position to make such an expenditure.

Speaking after the closing ceremony of a coaches' training programme organised by the Boxing Federation in Dhaka, the state minister pointed to the high cost of hosting Brazil in India, domestic criticism and the country's current economic situation.

He said the government was already facing substantial expenses in areas such as electricity and fuel and therefore did not have the willingness to spend heavily on a single football match.

However, Aminul Haque said the government would support the event if the BFF could secure sponsors and arrange the necessary funding.

He also said discussions with the BFF regarding Brazil's possible visit were still at an early stage, with no detailed talks yet held about the expenses and other arrangements.

Asked about the potential benefit to Bangladesh football, the state minister said hosting Brazil would be a major achievement and would allow the national team to play against one of the world's leading sides. He added that spectators would certainly enjoy the occasion.

However, he said he was not convinced that Bangladesh football would undergo a major transformation simply because Brazil played a match in the country.

Aminul Haque further said there is still no certainty that Brazil will actually come to Bangladesh, as the discussions remain at a preliminary stage.