Was Anwar Ali cheated out of part of his 2023-24 salary?

The Indian international is in a legal tussle between Delhi FC and Mohun Bagan.

In the 2018 Cotif Cup, Anwar Ali scored the winning free-kick goal for India U-20 against Argentina U-20, a team coached by Lionel Scaloni, the current Argentinian FIFA World Cup 2022-winning mansger. The Punjab-born defender was seen as one of India’s brightest prospects from the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 batch.

In 2018, he joined Mumbai City FC from Minerva Punjab on a three-year mega deal. He spent the 2018-19 season on loan with Indian Arrows and was registered with Mumbai’s first-team squad for the 2019-20 campaign. However, Anwar Ali was forced to leave football due to a heart problem discovered during a routine medical check-up before the new season. After a legal battle, the Delhi High Court finally allowed Anwar to make a comeback in football.

In May 2021, Anwar Ali signed a five-year deal with Delhi FC. He performed exceptionally well in the Durand Cup and I-League Qualifiers in the first part of the 2021-22 season, which earned him an 18-month loan move to ISL club FC Goa on January 1, 2022. Anwar Ali became an important part of the FC Goa team, playing 32 matches and earning his senior team debut for India on March 23, 2022, against Bahrain.

The controversial loan move of Anwar Ali to Mohun Bagan

After completing his loan deal with FC Goa, Delhi FC agreed to another four-year loan deal with Mohun Bagan SG from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2027.

A source tracking Anwar Ali’s transfer to Mohun Bagan told Khel Now, “Anwar Ali’s loan transfer to Mohun Bagan is worth Rs 11 crores, spread across four years.”

“This structure suited both clubs very well as the loan fee is not part of the ISL salary cap, meaning Anwar Ali’s salary is not part of the squad salary cap and Delhi FC retain the rights to Anwar Ali when the loan deal expires in 2027,” the source added.

As per the annexure of the agreement, which Khel Now has accessed, Mohun Bagan SG paid Delhi FC Rs 2 crores as a one-time loan fee in April 2023 and agreed to pay Rs 15 lakhs monthly to cover Anwar Ali’s salary for the 2023-24 season.

“Anwar Ali’s salary for the first year of the four-year deal was Rs 1.5 crores and from the second year onwards, it will be Rs 2.5 crores per season,” a source tracking Anwar Ali’s case informed Khel Now.

Salary discrepancy & legal issues

A legal document, which Khel Now has accessed, shows that Zebboi Facility Developers Private Limited, owner of Delhi FC, paid the defender Rs 12,25,000 per month instead of the agreed Rs 15 lakhs.

“Anwar Ali did not receive Rs 27.5 lakhs of his 2023-24 season salary, which is shocking considering Delhi FC were paid Rs 2 crores as a straight loan transfer fee,” a source tracking the case told Khel Now.

On July 10, Ranjit Bajaj, owner of Delhi FC and director of Zebboi Facility Developers Private Limited, tweeted that “Anwar Ali’s loan agreement with MB was terminated due to new FIFA RSTP regulations which deem any loan longer than one year as invalid. He will be reintegrated into Delhi FC and is looking forward to returning to ISL on a permanent transfer. Two of the biggest clubs are in the running. The next 24 hours will be crucial. 🙏🏽 can’t say more 🫡”.

Football legal expert weighs in

Anwar Ali’s loan move to MBSG was based on the AIFF Regulations on Status and Transfer of Players 2023, which follows older FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players from February 2021. These regulations only specify the minimum period for loans, with no mention of a maximum duration.

FIFA introduced a new loan regulation that added the maximum duration of loans (i.e., one year) on July 1, 2022, one year before Anwar Ali’s loan move to Mohun Bagan.

After consulting with various experts involved in player transfers, I am told AIFF is still adhering to the older FIFA Regulations on the Status & Transfer of Players from Feb 2021. Which only specify the min period for loans, with no mention of a max duration. #IndianFootball https://t.co/8nmreEO5h9

— Ashish Negi (@7negiashish) May 2, 2024

FIFA also stated, “At the domestic level, FIFA’s member associations will be granted three years to implement rules for a loan system that is in line with the principles established at the international level.”

“Even when FIFA changed the regulations in 2022, it did not impact the loan deals agreed upon before July 1, 2022 and the same will happen when AIFF implements these regulations in the next year, which includes Anwar Ali’s transfer to Mohun Bagan,” said a legal expert who works in football transfers with an international player agency.

East Bengal transfer opportunity

When Delhi FC made Anwar Ali available on the market last week, Mohun Bagan’s arch-rivals saw an opportunity. East Bengal quickly agreed terms with the defender and his parent club.

“As per the email sent by Anwar Ali and Delhi FC to the player status committee, subject to PSC approval, Delhi FC has signed a deal with East Bengal,” said a source close to the AIFF player status committee.

“East Bengal are ready to pay a Rs 3 crores transfer fee to Delhi FC for the permanent transfer of the player. The Kolkata giants are also likely to offer Rs 3.5 crores per season in salary to Anwar Ali, if the PSC approves the transfer,” added a source tracking this issue in detail.

If this deal goes through, Anwar Ali will become one of the highest-earning Indian players in the history of Indian football.

“Legally, Delhi FC or Anwar Ali cannot sign any contract without the legal termination of the loan agreement with Mohun Bagan, and Mohun Bagan is likely to raise this issue in front of the player status committee,” added a source close to the AIFF player status committee.

“Delhi FC have already earned Rs 2 crores as a loan transfer fee, Rs 27.5 lakhs from the first year of Anwar Ali’s salary from Mohun Bagan and now they are trying to get another Rs 3 crores in transfer fees for the same player. This will make Ali’s transfer value around Rs 5.28 crores in total,” added a source tracking this issue in detail.

The AIFF player’s status committee now needs to make a final decision on this transfer saga as per the AIFF rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, football fans in Kolkata Maidan are thrilled as the saga brings back old memories of Kolkata football when these giants went head-to-head for every significant player in Indian football.

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