Calcutta: Mohun Bagan's rigid stance has put the Calcutta Football League (CFL) Derby against East Bengal on Wednesday under a cloud of uncertainty.
On a day when the state's PWD department refused to give a fit certificate to the temporary galleries at Kalyani Stadium thereby reducing its total capacity to just 7,500, Bagan officials came up with another set of demands which has put the Indian Football Association (IFA) in a quandary.
The IFA, on its part, has continued with its dilly-dallying tactics when it comes to taking decisions.
At a hurriedly called media conference on Monday evening, Bagan assistant secretary Srinjoy Bose said they had shot off a letter to the IFA demanding 48-hour preparation time and at least 4000 tickets for its members.
"Around 6400 members have renewed their membership this season. The IFA in a letter this evening has allotted 2000 tickets to the club. What are we going to do with it? Apart from the ticket issue, we have also stated that we need at least 48 hours to prepare for the match at Kalyani considering its magnitude," Bose said.
Bagan officials made it clear that under the given circumstances they were ready to play on Thursday or Friday because they needed two days to get used to the conditions at Kalyani. "We have not played there this season... Once the IFA agrees to our demand for tickets, they should give us a minimum of 48 hours for preparation..."
This is only the latest in a series of demands made by Bagan officials. Even before the season got underway, Bagan had indicated their unwillingness to play exhibition matches (Derbies) in the CFL.
Then as the Derby drew closer, they raised concerns over security leading to the PWD and police refusing to clear the temporary structure at the Kalyani Stadium. With Bagan being aware of the dates of the Derby at least a fortnight back, they should have got themselves used to the conditions at Kalyani in advance and not wait till the last minute.
Late on Monday night it was learnt that Bagan were ready to climb down from their demand for 4000 tickets, but still won't play on Wednesday. But pushing the Derby back even by a day will only complicate matters.
East Bengal are unwilling to play it after Wednesday as a few of their key players will be unavailable because of ISL commitments. "We won't be playing at half strength," said a senior East Bengal official.
IFA secretary Utpal Ganguly was at a loss to explain the situation. "I know to host a Derby at a stadium with a capacity of only 7500 is not desirable. But where do I slot the match?
"The Salt Lake Stadium is unavailable, Barasat Stadium is being renovated, Bagan won't play in Siliguri, police won't give the necessary clearance to the Bagan ground... Where else do you have the Derby then?" said Ganguly.
To make matters worse, the East Bengal-Mohammedan Sporting match at Kalyani on September 11 is also uncertain because of Id-Uz Zoha. That puts the CFL in doubt because the IFA will be hard pressed to complete the tournament.
