Mohun Bagan to pick ISL “Invitation to bid documents” tomorrow
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has come forward in support of the “Big Two” clubs of Kolkata. The chief minister on Tuesday called upon the officials of both the clubs to look into the ensuing crisis revolving around their participation in the Indian Super League.
“We were grateful to the Chief Minister for giving us time to hear us. On behalf of the clubs and IFA she was explained how the I League is getting diluted while the Indian Super League is getting more popularised. She was told how the IMG-R is creating trouble for the Big Two clubs in Bengal,” said IFA secretary Utpal Ganguly.
East Bengal club officials Debabrata Sarkar, secretary Kalyan Majumder and assistant secretary Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta along with Mohun Bagan club secretary Anjan Mitra, assistant secretary Srinjoy Bose and finance secretary earlier met Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and discussed the issue.
Football Sports Development Limited, the organizers of the ISL wants both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan to pay the bid amount of Rs 15 crore to join the league. But the Kolkata giants has made it clear to the organisers that they are not willing to pay the bid amount. The Kolkata giants also wants to play their matches in Kolkata.
According to Utpal Ganguly, “She (Chief Minister) was also briefed that both clubs met the All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary yesterday in Delhi and told him about their stance. The chief minister urged the two clubs to take a wait and watch approach as to what action the Federation takes. Mr Kushal Das will be meeting the AIFF President Praful Patel and discuss with him the suggestions made by both the clubs. The chief minister has assured that the state government will lend full support so that the image of both clubs is not tarnished.”
FSDL had already floated the tender through ‘Invitation to Bid’ on May 12. The last day for submission of bids from prospective team owners in 10 cities — Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Cuttack, Durgapur, Hyderabad, Jamshedpur, Kolkata, Ranchi, Siliguri and Thiruvananthapuram – is May 24.
Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are yet to decide on their participation in the ISL. Although East Bengal has picked the bid documents, Mohun Bagan is yet to decide on their next course of action.
East Bengal assistant secretary Dr Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta said, “Picking the bid papers does not guarantee your participation in the ISL. The chief minister has requested us (all the three clubs) to take a collective decision on any issue for the betterment of Indian football, considering we have a great history behind.”