Debasis Sen, Kolkata
Mohun Bagan club has decided to forfeit their Kolkata Football League (CFL) fixture against Messrs, scheduled for Wednesday, at the Bankimanjali Stadium in Naihati. The club has informed the Indian Football Association (IFA) that they will not field a team due to their ongoing participation in the Durand Cup.
In a letter sent to the IFA, on Monday, the Mohun Bagan management cited concerns over players’ workload and injury risks, with 8-9 players from their Durand Cup squad also registered for the CFL. With the crucial Durand Cup quarterfinal against arch-rivals East Bengal scheduled for Sunday, August 17, at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, the club wants to avoid any unnecessary strain on key players.
General Secretary Srinjoy Bose stated, “We have sent a letter to the IFA requesting that our CFL fixtures be scheduled after the Durand Cup. We are trying to protect our players from being overburdened.”
However, the IFA has refused to accommodate the request, insisting that they are not in a position to alter the CFL schedule. As a result, Mohun Bagan’s non-appearance could lead to a walkover in favour of Messrs.
Several Mohun Bagan officials have expressed dissatisfaction with IFA’s decision, alleging bias. Some even suspect a conspiracy to aid East Bengal’s chances of qualifying for the CFL Super Six stage. Allegations of partiality from Mohun Bagan toward the IFA are not new, with the club frequently accusing the governing body of unfair treatment in the past.
As tensions rise ahead of the Kolkata derby in the Durand Cup, this controversy has added another layer of drama to Bengal’s football rivalry.
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