Kolkata: The parent body of football in West Bengal, the Indian Football Association is wholeheartedly backing the Kolkata giants- East Bengal and Mohun Bagan before their meeting with the AIFF president Praful Patel, which would possibly decide their future in the I-League-ISL merger tournament.
As a matter of fact, the support is so strong that it’s secretary Utpal Ganguly made clear to the AIFF and IMG-Reliance of his plans coming up with a new league if these historically rich teams are kept out of the plans for the new tournament.
“Commercial aspect is indeed important in the game, but that shouldn’t harm the interest of Bengal football. If the concerned body ignores, we will start a parallel league with the other top teams of Indian football” said Ganguly.
On asked whether this was to be taken as a threat by the AIFF or not, Ganguly said, “It’s not a threat, it’s just the truth you might say. Though I strongly believe The AIFF will be carefully handle the issue and a solution will come out.”
“If the AIFF show-causes me for this press conference, I am ready to answer that as well” further added the IFA secretary who seems to quite determined in holding his ground in this issue, not bothered about the consequences that might follow.
He further opened up on his plans about the new league that he talked about and said, “If required we can run the organization as an autonomous body. We will speak with the teams of NorthEast and Goa. We will also speak with Atletico de Kolkata if they are interested..”
He went on to cite the fact that football in Bengal has it’s own legacy and history and also that the IFA was even older body than the All Indian Football Federation. “The AIFF and IMG-R should remember the fact that the IFA was founded way before the AIFF and Bengal football has its own charm in Indian football over the years” said Ganguly.
The rich history and legacy that these two Kolkata teams have carried into Indian football all these years might just come to an abrupt end if the ISL- I League merger takes place and these teams fail to fulfill the demanded criteria.
But Utpal Ganguly and his team promises to go to any limits to protect Bengal football, “To protect the interest of Bengal football, we will do whatever it needs to do” he said.
Later in the day after the all-important meeting between the two teams and the Indian football board, it came to light that the Patel put an end to all the drama and talks of the possible I-League and ISL merger in the future after he said that the I-League would be the official league in the country.
He said, “I-League is the official league in the country. ISL will be a tournament.” He further added that both these competitions would be held seven months from now on and this clarifies that there would be no merger.
A source close to the news agency PTI also said that the merger wouldn’t happen anytime in two-three years and the ISL would be expanded into a seven month long tournament with matches being played on the weekends.
Earlier this year, Patel had said a similar thing after he said that he had his ‘doubts’ regarding a merging these two competitions together and after today’s meeting, a Bengali football fanatic would feel free to support Atletico De Kolkata in the ISL while rooting for his favourite team- Mohun Bagan or East Bengal in the I-League.
(With inputs from Xtratime.in)