Merger saga continues as Kolkata giants threaten disruption of ISL

by Chittu Shetty May 28, 2017

Officials of both Kolkata giants in a joint press conference blasted AIFF on their failure to deliver the promised revised road map of the future regarding Indian Football

The drama around the proposed merger in Indian football took a new turn when Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal came together against All India Football Federation (AIFF) on their failure to provide any roadmap about Indian football. With AFC to take decision regarding ISL on June 7 and with bids for ISL entry being closed now Kolkata giants now feel betrayed by the board as number of promises has been left unfulfilled.

Addressing the gathered media in a joint press conference, (IFA) Secretary Utpal Ganguli, who is representing both clubs accused the AIFF President Praful Patel of leaving them in the lurch, “Praful Patel met officials of both the clubs earlier this month (6th May) and promised them that by 25th May he will share with them the revised roadmap for the future of Indian football. There was a ray of hope after this. Suddenly, the bid document tenders were floated by the Indian Super League (ISL) authorities and the last date of submission was 25th May as well. Is that a coincidence or a farce of some kind, I do not know,” opening his statement with criticism.

Also Read: PIFA campers watch Real Madrid win at the Santiago Bernabéu

The meeting was attended by 18 office bearers each from the two rival clubs whose main demand is the waiver of franchise fee of Rs 15 crore, while also wanting to play from Kolkata instead of shifting base outside of city.

He further explained, “We are yet to be given a roadmap and then came up the sudden intimation from the AIFF of a meeting convened at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters on 7th June which will include various stakeholders of Indian football. We don’t know the confirmed list of stakeholders but it makes no sense in having some of the supposed stakeholders in that meeting from the names we are given to understand.”

“We are writing to the AIFF President and demanding him to share the roadmap first. Moreover, this is an issue between the clubs and AIFF, not an AFC issue; it’s purely a domestic issue so discuss it here. We will see about the meeting on 7th June and see how important it is. We will decide to go or not after we get his reply. We hope the AIFF solves it. But, if all these issues are not sorted out, we are ready to whatever step necessary. But, we still hope for a solution. We are not thinking about a Plan-B but we will keep our state’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Minister of Sports Aroop Biswas abreast of whatever transpires between us and the AIFF,”

Also Read: The National team training is much tougher, admits duo from Mizoram

“So, the AIFF have defaulted us on the committment of a roadmap promised on 25th May. We will decide on our next step on the reply we get from the letter, which we will send latest by Monday,” ended Ganguli with his statement.

Mohun Bagan’s Finance Secretary Debasish Dutta, raised his concerns over the meeting which transpired between AIFF and Asian football Confederations (AFC) General Secretary Dato Windsor in New Delhi on 24th May. “No one has any idea what happened in that meeting,” further commenting, “The promotion of the I-League is diluting, while ISL gets all, better standard of telecast and promotion. Obviously the financial support is huge and so ISL is the number one tournament commercially, visually and viably, so why would anybody invest on I league. It’s a way of compromise. Wasn’t the motive to have a long tournament after all?” he said making his intent clear to see the Green and Maroons in an ‘expanded’ ISL.

East Bengal’s executive committee member Debrata Sarkar even went as far as accusing AIFF president of not wanting ‘Legacy clubs in ISL’. Sarkar explained, “We are still in dark about how football is going to be run in this country. If Praful Patel wants, we can play in the ISL. It seems he could not care less and it is not happening. In my personal opinion, Praful Patel is the only hurdle,”

Anjan Mitra, the Honorary Secretary of Mohun Bagan delivered the final punch in the press meet suggesting they would go as far as to stop the ISL from taking place if demands are not met.

“We have decided just one thing in our meeting – No Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, no ISL. We will not allow the ISL here. We will not allow business in the name of football. Money can’t buy you everything. Football will be played like football. We want all of your cooperation in such a movement. We can’t tolerate AIFF’s torture,”

Apparently according to Debasish Dutta venue is not a problem since assurance from West Bengal CM has been provided regarding the matter, “The Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) said ‘don’t worry about venue we will bring out a solution by talking to three clubs (with Atletico de Kolkata)’. Venue will not be a problem. It’s secondary. Primary concern is the franchise fees,” he said.