East Bengal granted walkover as Mohun Bagan didn't show up for CFL derby

A similar incident happened in 2016, where East Bengal were given the walkover.

In a surprising turn of events, Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) chose to skip the highly anticipated Kolkata derby against East Bengal in the Calcutta Football League (CFL) Super Six round. The decision came after the MBSG administration submitted a letter citing fixture overload and criticized the “ineffective scheduling by IFA” as the reason behind their refusal to play. The clash was scheduled to take place today (30 November) at Naihati Stadium at 2 PM.

The letter addressed to IFA secretary Anirban Dutta, according to TOI, expressed frustration, stating, “Because of the ineffective scheduling by IFA we have been given to understand most of the teams in Super Six skipped their games as other tournaments (have) started, (and it) questions total sanity of the CFL.”

This move brought back memories of the CFL Kolkata Derby in 2016, where similar circumstances led to unexpected outcomes. The rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal has always been intense, and this incident only added another chapter to its storied history.

Mohun Bagan’s previous match in the Super Six phase was against Mohammedan Sporting, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat. While East Bengal had four matches remaining, the IFA confirmed a new derby date on November 30 in an attempt to conclude the season.

The controversy stemmed from Bagan’s concerns about their impending Indian Super League (ISL) encounter against Hyderabad FC, which had been relocated to Bhubaneswar due to Telangana assembly elections. Despite Bagan’s protest and insistence on fixture challenges, the IFA maintained that the derby was still on schedule.

In an unusual sight, while Mohun Bagan failed to show up, East Bengal players patiently waited for 30 minutes before being awarded a walkover.

The incident has ignited discussions about the challenges and intricacies of football scheduling, with fans left reflecting on the historic significance of the Kolkata Derby and the unexpected twists it can bring, echoing sentiments from the past.

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