Three officials from the Kolkata giants fined, EB secretary gets a caution

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Three officials from the Kolkata giants fined. Image Source: XtraTime

Kolkata: The disciplinary committee of Indian Football Association (IFA) took strict action against East Bengal and Mohun Bagan officials on Saturday. Mohun Bagan officials Srinjoy Bose and Debasish Dutta were fined  1 lakh rupees each along with Debabrata Sarkar of East Bengal who was fined twenty five thousand rupees by the committee. The disciplinary committee also warned East Bengal secretary Kalyan Majumder regarding this matter but he won’t have to pay any fine. The committee also added that the club officials will have to pay the amount in between 1 month. The money will be used for Players Benevolent fund.

Mohun Bagan officials Srinjoy Bose, Debasish Dutta along with Kalyan Majumder and Debabrata Sarkar of East Bengal were show caused by the parent body for their remarks in the media following the decision of IFA to give three points to East Bengal. The Calcutta Football League derby was called off after a no-show from Mohun Bagan. East Bengal, who turned up for the match at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium were given walk over by referee Pranjal Banerjee. Mohun Bagan stood firm on their decision to not field a team.

IFA secretary Utpal Ganguly said,”The Kolkata giants disrespected the parent body of state football and that’s why the committee has taken this decision.”

“If the committee didn’t take any strict action against them the other club’s would think they can also do such things and IFA won’t punish them.”

“But both the club officials have understood that the comments regarding the IFA was their fault and it was inappropriate .” he added.

The strange situation was a result of tussle between Mohun Bagan and the Indian Football Association, as both parties refused to budge.

Mohun Bagan had demanded a postponement because of “lack of practice” at the venue which is about 60kms from the city but IFA stuck to its original schedule.

With the walk-over, the red-and-gold brigade took an unassailable 24 points at the top of the 11-team table to be declared winners of the league for a record seventh successive time. Mohun Bagan remained on 16 points from eight matches.

The last time such an instance happened was in 1985, when the same team Mohun Bagan did not turn up.