Mohun Bagan Super Giants maintained their unbeaten record in the Kolkata Derby, in the Indian Super League, with a 1-0 win over their arch-rivals, East Bengal FC, in Guwahati, on Saturday. A solitary goal from Jamie Maclaren was enough to secure the win for the Mariners. However, like many previous encounters, particularly against East Bengal, the match was marred by dissatisfaction over refereeing decisions.
The Derby, however, may be remembered for reasons other than the on-field action. With a crowd of only around three thousand in attendance at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati, the atmosphere fell short of what is typically associated with the iconic ‘Baro Match.’
Former East Bengal captain and defender, Saumik Dey, described the ambiance as “dull” in an exclusive interview with RevSportz. When questioned whether the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) could have rescheduled the match to maintain the intensity of the occasion, Dey suggested that the timing might have been influenced by the tight football calendar in 2025, which includes India’s Asian Cup qualifiers and East Bengal’s AFC commitments.
The primary topic of discussion during the interview, however, centered on the controversial refereeing decisions that have plagued East Bengal in recent matches. Dey was particularly vocal about one instance: “That was a clear penalty,” he fumed, referring to the incident where the ball hit Apuia’s extended arm from PV Vishnu’s shot, right at the end of the first half. “The arm was clearly away from the body, and East Bengal were once again victim to poor refereeing decisions,” he added. “It could have changed the outcome of the game.”
East Bengal were reduced to ten men when Souvik Chakrabarti was shown a second yellow card for a tackle on Mohun Bagan’s Liston Colaco. Dey was not convinced by the referee’s decisions, particularly with regard to Chakrabarti’s sending off. “Going by the rule book, it was a yellow card for the tackle on Colaco because Souvik was the last man in defence, but the first one was too soft a call,” Dey remarked. “Again, it was a decision that ruined East Bengal’s plans.”
“I don’t know when Indian referees will live up to expectations,” Dey expressed in a disheartened tone. “East Bengal’s rival now are the referees.”
East Bengal’s new Venezuelan forward, Richard Celis, had arrived in India around 4 pm on the match day. Speculation about whether he would make a cameo appearance after a 48-hour journey was rife, but he was ultimately left out of the squad. When asked about the logistical issues surrounding Celis’ arrival, Dey offered his candid thoughts. “Suppose he had reached a day earlier, he’s not PC Sorcar,” Dey quipped, referring to the famous magician. “He can’t work wonders just by stepping onto the pitch.”
“It’s his first time in India. Give him some time to adjust, and then let’s jump the gun,” he added, advising patience before making any premature judgments about the player.
Dey, who had previously praised his former coach, Trevor Morgan, in another RevSportz interview, also expressed his admiration for Oscar Bruzon, East Bengal’s current head coach. Bruzon, who took charge under difficult circumstances, following a six-match losing streak, managed to give fans renewed hope with a series of wins and draws.
Dey emphasised that Bruzon could not be blamed for the result. “You can’t blame Bruzon. He had limited options with no Anwar Ali, Provat Lakra, Saul Crespo, or Rakip,” he explained. “He fielded the best possible side available to him, and with a moment of defensive lapse at the beginning, along with a few other instances, the result could have been different.”
Dey also called on defenders Hijazi Maher and Hector Yuste to step up their game for the betterment of the team. “Both of these defenders have been under-par throughout, and even today, they faltered during the goal,” he stated. “It’s high time they understand the weight of the jersey.”
Dey also shared his thoughts on the earlier game of the day, where Mohammedan SC defeated Bengaluru FC, at their home ground. “That was a much better game, and Mohammedan impressed a lot,” he said. The result opened up the league, adding more excitement to the ongoing season, with plenty of action still to come.