Author: Rahul Giri

East Bengal defender Hijazi Maher has officially parted ways with the club and is set to return to his homeland to embark on a new chapter in his career. The Jordanian centre-back will join Al Faisaly, a club based in Amman, Jordan. Al Faisaly confirmed the signing through an official announcement on their social-media handles, revealing that Hijazi has signed a three-year contract. Hijazi joined East Bengal in September 2023 and made an immediate impact. His standout performances in the Kalinga Super Cup earned him the ‘Defender of the Tournament’ accolade. However, the following season turned out to be a…

The 134th edition of the Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest and the world’s third-oldest football tournament, is set to begin on July 23, spanning five Indian states and six venues. This year’s edition promises to be one of the grandest in the tournament’s storied history, with a significant increase in prize money, international participation, and special honours for the winners. During the trophy unveiling ceremony held in Kolkata, West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, Lt. General Mohit Malhotra, and other senior officials from the Durand Organising Committee announced a host of surprises and developments for the 2025 edition. The tournament promises…

The future of the 2025–26 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) has been thrown into doubt following a significant development between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partners, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). On Thursday, FSDL issued a statement declaring that they are currently unable to proceed with the 2025–26 ISL season, placing it on hold due to a lack of clarity regarding the extension of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA), which is set to expire on 8th December 2025—midway through a standard ISL season. FSDL cited the absence of a confirmed contractual framework post-December as…

Rahul Giri In a major development that has sent ripples through Indian football, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) has informed the All India Football Federation that the upcoming 2025-26 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) has been placed on hold. The decision stems from the lack of clarity surrounding the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement between FSDL and AIFF, which is set to expire on December 8, 2025 —approximately one-third into a regular ISL season running from September to April. In a formal communication addressed to the AIFF, FSDL expressed its inability to proceed with the planning, organisation,…

Amid the cloud of uncertainty in Indian football, there is good news for those in West Bengal who play the game and those who like following it. The Bengal Super League (BSL) — a franchise-based inter-district tournament aiming to bring professional football to the district level — will kick off in October this year. Officially unveiled at a 5 star hotel in Kolkata, the league marks a bold step towards bridging the gap between rural talent and the professional stage. In the presence of dignitaries including IFA president Ajit Banerjee, secretary Anirban Dutta and prominent figures from Shrachi Sports and…

Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG), who had initially pulled out of the upcoming Durand Cup, have agreed to participate in the tournament — but only if certain conditions laid out by the club are met. The 133rd edition of Asia’s oldest football competition is set to kick off on July 23, featuring 24 teams across six venues in five states. In a letter sent in response to the Durand Committee’s official invitation, Mohun Bagan listed four key demands. Chief among them is clarity on the future of the Indian Super League (ISL) , which the club says hinges on the…

The uncertainty over Mohammedan Sporting Club’s participation in the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) is expected to be resolved soon. Following a financially turbulent season, the Shrachi Group severed ties with the club, leaving it in a state of disarray. Mohammedan SC endured a forgettable campaign, finishing at the bottom of the ISL table amidst salary dues and multiple controversies. Issues ranging from unpaid wages to players and coaches to internal conflicts between the investor group and the club’s management severely impacted on-field performances. Since the conclusion of the previous ISL, the club has been actively seeking new investors to…

Tentative fixtures for the 134th IndianOil Durand Cup have been released, with the tournament scheduled to kick off on July 23 and conclude on August 23. In a significant development, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who were earlier reported to have withdrawn, have been included following last-minute negotiations, as per reports. Seven ISL clubs — Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, Odisha FC and Mumbai City FC — have opted out of the competition due to uncertainty surrounding the scheduling of the upcoming ISL season. Tentative Fixtures: The participating ISL clubs this year include Mohun Bagan…

The All India Football Federation is seriously considering a landmark policy that would allow footballers from other South Asian nations to be registered as domestic players in Indian leagues — a step inspired by Bangladesh’s recent implementation of the same. At its Executive Committee meeting held on July 2, 2025, chaired by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, the proposal was discussed in detail. If implemented, players from SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) countries — including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan — will no longer be treated as foreign recruits by Indian clubs in the I-League and Indian Super…

In what promises to be a nostalgic moment for Mohun Bagan fans, ‘homegrown’ forward Kiyan Nassiri is all set for a return to the Kolkata giants ahead of the new season. Kiyan, who was a part of Mohun Bagan’s title-winning I-League squad in 2019 and famously scored a historic hat-trick in the 2022 Kolkata Derby, had earned a special place in the hearts of the green-and-maroon faithful. However, a lack of consistent playing time saw him move to Chennaiyin FC last season, seeking more minutes on the pitch. Despite being in head coach Owen Coyle’s plans at Chennaiyin, Kiyan struggled…