Kolkata: East Bengal club’s first match of the I-League 2017-18 against current title holders Aizawl FC at the Salt Lake Stadium is still uncertain as they haven’t received any green signal from the Sports Department of West Bengal on whether they can organise the match or not.
The Red & Gold Brigade is scheduled to play their first match at the Salt Lake Stadium on November 28, but ISL side ATK has a home match on the same venue on November 26. But as per the Sports Department, the YBK turf must need a rest of 48 hours between two matches.
In this dilemma, the East Bengal management cannot print tickets of the first game as they are yet to know the final date of the first match. If they get finally get the permission to host the first match at YBK, there won’t be much time to print the tickets and sell it.
On being asked about the matter, East Top official, Debabrata Sarkar said,” We are yet to get any final confirmation from the Sports Ministry of West Bengal. Let’s hope a solution will come out.”
On the other hand if the All India Football Federation (AIFF) give permission, East Bengal will observe a minute of silence for the death of former AIFF President, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.