Anwar Ali, East Bengal, Delhi FC hit with bans & Rs 12.90 crore fine

The centre-back terminated his loan contract “without just cause” with Mohun Bagan SG

Anwar Ali has sparked one of the most significant controversies in Indian football after terminating his four-year loan agreement with Mohun Bagan on July 9, 2024, to return to his parent club, Delhi FC.

Less than 24 hours later, on July 10, 2024, Ali, Delhi FC and East Bengal signed a tripartite transfer agreement for his move from Delhi FC to East Bengal on a five-year deal.

As Khel Now earlier revealed, East Bengal agreed to pay Delhi FC a transfer fee of Rs 2.5 crores. A notable clause in the agreement specifies that if Anwar Ali faces a fine due to the circumstances surrounding this transfer, it will be split equally between East Bengal and Anwar Ali. Delhi FC will not be responsible for any part of the fine.

On July 11, 2024, Anwar Ali signed a five-year player agreement with East Bengal. Khel Now also previously exclusively reported that Ali would receive Rs 24 crores as his salary over the five years, including Rs 8.5 crores in loyalty bonuses.

While these agreements only became public recently through Khel Now, Anwar Ali had already approached the AIFF’s Players’ Status Committee (PSC) for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to complete his transfer.

The PSC initially declared the contract termination “unjust” but issued the NOC on August 11, 2024, allowing Anwar Ali to complete his transfer to East Bengal on the following day. Only after this did Khel Now gain access to both agreements.

Related News: Anwar Ali joins East Bengal from Delhi FC for Rs 2.5 crores transfer fee; signs five-year deal

AIFF’s Players’ Status Committee’s final decision

After hearing the case on August 22, 2024, AIFF’s Players’ Status Committee delivered its final verdict on 10 September 2024:

“Anwar Ali will serve a four-month sporting ban, while East Bengal and Delhi FC will face two transfer window bans, starting from the January transfer window. All three parties—Anwar Ali, Delhi FC and East Bengal—must pay Rs 12.90 crores in compensation to Mohun Bagan.” said the decision deliver by the PSC

Impact on Anwar Ali

Anwar Ali’s four-month sporting ban will begin on the first matchday of ISL 2024-25. As per the tripartite agreement, Ali is responsible for paying Mohun Bagan 50% of the Rs 12.90 crore compensation.

Impact on East Bengal

East Bengal will bear the remaining 50% of the Rs 12.90 crore compensation and will not be able to sign or register new players in the 2024 winter and 2025 summer transfer windows.

Rs 32.95 crores (Rs 26.5 crores in transfer fee and salary; Rs 6.45 crores in fines) will be the total package and cost the club are paying to sign Anwar Ali.

Related News: Anwar Ali to earn Rs 24 crores at East Bengal over five years

Impact on Delhi FC

Delhi FC will also serve a two-transfer window ban but will not be responsible for paying any compensation, as per the agreement between the three parties.

Provision to appeal

All parties have the right to appeal the AIFF Players’ Status Committee’s decision to the AIFF Appeals Committee. If Anwar Ali files an appeal, the monetary compensation will be suspended until the Appeals Committee makes a final decision. However, to lift the sporting and transfer bans, the involved parties will need a stay order from the Appeals Committee.

Breakup of Rs 12.90 crore fine by the PSC

As per the PSC’s decision, the Rs 12.90 crore breakup is explained in point 7.

7.1 “Residual value of the player’s contract with MBSG based the average value of his contract with MBSG and subsequently with EBFC i.e. (INR 2,50,00,000 a year & INR 3,10,00,000 a year respectively) – INR 2,80,00,000 for (3) three years remaining – A total of INR 8,40,00,000/- “

7.2 “Remuneration already paid by MBSG to Delhi FC under the loan agreement: – INR 2,00,00,000.”

7.3 “Other Objective Criteria including damage suffered by Club- INR 2,50,00,000 towards replacement/alternative basis as calculated basis the transfer fee earned by Delhi FC in the current transaction from East Bengal FC.”

Public timeline of Anwar Ali transfer saga

• July 9: Unilateral contract termination
• July 10: Anwar Ali requests AIFF to register him back at Delhi FC
• July 12: Mohun Bagan requested Anwar to join the team on July 19
• July 17: Anwar pleads his case before the PSC
• July 19: Anwar fails to join Mohun Bagan’s training
• August 2: Case listed before AIFF PSC
• August 3: PSC interim order declares loan terminated “without just cause”
• August 10: Hearing to obtain NOC from PSC
• August 11: AIFF PSC grants NOC to Anwar, but he is warned to proceed at his own risk pending the final order
• August 12: East Bengal registers Anwar Ali on a five-year deal
• August 23: Final hearing
• September 10: Final decision

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