Euphoria turned to oops for Mohammedan Sporting as I-League trophy suffers mid-celebration breakdown: Report

Mohammedan Sporting were handed their maiden I-League trophy this evening in Kolkata.

Jubilation turned to a touch of embarrassment for Mohammedan Sporting as they celebrated their historic I-League victory on Saturday. Having secured their first-ever league title and promotion to the Indian Super League, the team’s celebrations were marred by a mishap with the I-League trophy.

The golden cup, adorned with a silver ball on top, unfortunately came apart during the revelry. Details remain unclear on exactly how the trophy broke, but reports suggest the ball became detached from the main structure. This left both the club and the I-League authorities red-faced amidst the otherwise joyous occasion. While the broken trophy is a minor blip on a momentous day for Mohammedan Sporting, it highlights the sometimes fragile nature of sporting silverware. 

Similar incidents have occurred in other sports. Formula One champion Max Verstappen has twice found himself on the receiving end of broken trophies, with damage to his championship trophies after the Belgian and Hungarian Grand Prix victories last year. Football hasn’t been immune either, with Chelsea reportedly causing minor damage to the prestigious UEFA Champions League trophy after their penalty shootout win against Bayern Munich in 2012.

Despite the broken trophy, Mohammedan Sporting were still able to lift the symbolic I-League silverware in front of their home fans at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. The Black Panthers had secured the title a week earlier with a 2-1 victory over Shillong Lajong, rendering their final match against Delhi FC a mere formality. The match itself ended in a 1-3 defeat for Mohammedan, but the focus remained firmly on their league triumph.

This victory marks a significant milestone for the club, paving their way for a return to the top tier of Indian football after a 10-year absence. Mohammedan Sporting’s relegation from I-League came at the end of the 2013-14 season, and their supporters will be eagerly anticipating their return to the big stage – which is now the Indian Super League.

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