Kolkata: Mohun Bagan club official Debashish Dutta lashed out on the Indian Football Association (IFA) on Tuesday, labelling the members as ‘thieves’, while also accusing the association of being ‘corrupted’. It was after Bagan played a 2-2 draw against arch-rivals East Bengal, which led to the latter winning the CFL title for a record eight times.
“If you want to know the truth, I knew the match result, even before the match was played. Mohun Bagan will never win the CFL. Not in eight years, not even in the next eighty years. If we earn a penalty, even they will be given one and if they get a sent-off, our players will also be shown a card. This is the treatment meted out to us,” said Debashish Dutta.
Mohun Bagan were left to rue their chances when East Bengal came back from behind twice in the match, to win the CFL title. They were also awarded a controversial penalty in the 62nd minute of the match and it helped the Red and Gold brigade equalise the scores.
Taking a dig at referee of the match Ranjit Bakshi, Debashish said, “Ranjit Bakshi is the world’s greatest thief. Everyone knows which team he supports. The IFA has been filled with thieves all over. They will not let us win.”
Controversy is nothing new in the CFL this campaign, with penalties being a hot topic for Mohun Bagan club members to talk about. Srinjoy Bose had also earlier called the CFL a ‘circus’ after a controversial late penalty was awarded to East Bengal in their 2-1 win against Patha Chakra.
Debashish also attacked the secretary of the IFA secretary Utpal Ganguly, blaming him for spoiling Indian football and supporting East Bengal thereby, making the game a one-sided affair.
Calling it a shameful act, he also threatened to walk out of the CFL saying, “Mohun Bagan is least interested in participating in the CFL next season.”