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XtraTime Web Desk: East Bengal footballer Johnny Acosta has still not been able to fly out to his native. The Costa Rican World Cupper is stranded at his country’s embassy in New Delhi. The treatment meted out at this Costa Rican footballer by both Quess and East Bengal has left a bad image for Indian football. It is rather unfortunate that Acosta has to face such an ordeal in travelling back to his country. It has been a blame game with Quess and East Bengal pointing finger at each other ever since the Bangalore based investors of the club parted ways at the end of last month.
It is learnt Acosta will finally travel back home from the Capital on Saturday.

The 36-year-old Acosta arrived in India in March to play in the I League for East Bengal. It would have been his second stint with the Red and Gold brigade, having played for the Kolkata outfit last season in the I League. Unfortunately as soon as Acosta arrived in India all football activities were stopped due to the nationwide lockdown announced by the government and the club opted for a ‘force majeure’ to terminate contracts with the players.

According to Acosta’s manager Jose Luis Rodriguez, “It has been a very tough situation for Johnny. He was frustrated with the behaviour of the club. Now he is feeling better because he is at the embassy in Delhi, waiting for his humanitarian flight, most likely on Saturday.”

“Johnny has played in two World Cups. He is a big player in Costa Rica. At least they could have shown some respect. The contract says the club is responsible for flight tickets from Costa Rica to Kolkata and from there back home. It doesn’t say price or amount, but says the club is responsible to send the player back home,” he added.

Acosta’s manager has even threatened to drag the matter to FIFA for his client not being paid the dues. It can make matters even worse for East Bengal.