How is Anwar Ali playing for East Bengal after the initial ban by AIFF Player Status Committee?

India defender Anwar Ali will start for East Bengal in their Indian Super League match against Kerala Blasters, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday.

Anwar Ali enters the JLN Stadium before the Indian Super League match between East Bengal and Kerala Blasters. | Photo Credit: East Bengal Media

India defender Anwar Ali will start for East Bengal in their Indian Super League match against Kerala Blasters, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday.

It will be the debut game for the 24-year-old, who will pair with Hector Yuste in defence. However, the player was previously banned by the Player Status Committee of the All India Football Federation -- an order that was quashed by the Delhi High Court.

On Thursday, Anwar Ali got interim relief from PSC, allowing him to play for East Bengal this season.

A decision on the fine for Anwar and transfer bans for East Bengal and Delhi FC – is expected around September 30.

“Yes, the player was given a No Objection Certificate (NOC) half an hour ago and he is free to play for his current club,” Sarim Naved, Anwar’s lawyer told Sportstar after the proceedings.

Anwar, 24, had unilaterally terminated his four-year loan contract at Mohun Bagan Super Giant in July and signed a permanent contract with East Bengal on a five-year deal from Delhi FC.

Mohun Bagan, however, had appealed the move as it considered it ‘without a just cause’.

The PSC agreed with the complaint and slapped a Rs.12.90 crore fine for the centre-back, and a two-window transfer ban for East Bengal and Delhi FC.

On September 13, the Delhi High Court quashed the order over a lack of detailed reasoning to the aggrieved parties and asked the PSC to revisit the proceedings.

The latest development, with the meetings starting on Tuesday, ended with Anwar getting the NOC two days later.