UPDATES:
- So, as things stand, East Bengal failed to turn up for the Calcutta Customs game. The decision on walkover being awarded to Customs will be taken by the IFA. However, the verdict won't take place any time soon as the governing body has paused its operations owing to Durga Pujo celebrations. Peerless, thus, will have to wait until October 13 for official communication for any confirmation.
- Calcutta Customs captain Chigozie Emmanuel: We had prepared to play against East Bengal. Of course, there is big disappointment because we have all travelled from a far place. East Bengal didn't turn up and as per FIFA rules, the opponent will get full points, so we will get points.
- Match commissioner Bikash Mukherjee says that the match officials waited for 32 minutes but East Bengal neither turned nor submitted the team list. The officials have no information about it, and will send the report to IFA. For now, the match officials can only say East Bengal was absent for the game.
- If Calcutta Customs gets a walkover in this game, technically, Peerless SC will win the Calcutta Football League. However, it cannot be officially confirmed until the IFA declares it, which won't happen until 13th of October.
- The officials will wait for 30 minutes until the match is declared a walkover. However, the decision on the winner of the CFL will be declared only on October 13, as the IFA is not functioning until then on account of 'Durga Pujo' festival in Kolkata.
- East Bengal HAS NOT turned up for the game. Calcutta Customs has walked on to the pitch and met the match officials.
- It looks like Calcutta Customs team is done with its warm-up, while East Bengal is not spotted at the stadium.
Official statement from East Bengal: "...........Instructions were accordingly communication to the head coach and the team to be prepared to play the match between 30th September, 2019 and 2nd October, 2019. However, no official confirmation was received by QEBFC (till date) on when this match would be played. Also, based on the original schedule, the head coach had planned for a break starting on 3rd October, 2019 to prepare for the all-important I-League game.
....Till late evening on 1st October, 2019, no communication was received [from the IFA] on the match to be played on 3rd October (as alleged through sources and social media). Pre-empting this scenario, QEBFC communicated that to play a crucial title deciding match, QEBFC wants to field its best team to win the CFL and requested that the match be played on or beyond 21st October, 2019.
......In spite of East Bengal Club reportedly requesting the IFA to conduct this crucial match in the right spirit and the right way and giving an official communication to arrange the game on 21st October, 2019 or beyond, there has been no consideration for this serious request of East Bengal Football Club by the IFA in the centenary year of the club and the fact that the CFL Championship should be decided in the best competitive spirit.
QEBFC reiterates that it is willing to play the crucial title deciding match on or beyond 21st October, 2019 in the right spirit of the game."
- FULL STATEMENT-
- Important information ahead of the clash -
Why is East Bengal playing later than Peerless?
East Bengal vs Calcutta Customs was originally scheduled to take place at the East Bengal ground on September 29 — when Peerless and Mohun Bagan played — but poor pitch conditions owing to incessant rains saw the game being potsponed to October 3. The Indian Football Association (IFA) secured police permission to host the match at the Kalyani Stadium and informed both the clubs on Tuesday that they will lock horns on October 3.
What is the controversy regarding East Bengal and IFA?
The ‘replay’ of the abandoned match between East Bengal and Calcutta Customs Club ran fresh trouble on Wednesday with East Bengal requesting for a new date citing unavailability of its coach, Alejandro Menendez, as the reason.
The governing body of football in the state and the organiser of the League – Indian Football Association (IFA) – is not willing to budge and has decided to go ahead with the match, which is scheduled at Kalyani Stadium on Thursday for a 2:30 pm kick-off.
What's the title scenario?
East Bengal has an uphill task as it has to win by a margin of seven goals or more to lift the CFL title. It currently sits third in the league standings.
Peerless SC, which currently tops the table, stands to become the first champion other than the city's three starlets - East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting - to win the CFL in 60 years. Eastern Railway, led by the legendary P.K. Banerjee, was the last team outside the famous three to lift the CFL title in 1958.
How does the points table look like?
The full points table can be checked here .
Comments
SHARE