Australian midfielder Erik Paartalu and Bengaluru FC part ways

The 35-year-joined the ISL side in 2017 from Qatar side Al Kharaitiyat SC.

The midfielder scored nine goals for the side, during his stint with them. (File photo)

Barely a week after Bengaluru FC Assistant Coach Naushad Moosa said that Erik Paartalu would be joining his teammates for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2021-22 pre-season, the club announced the Australian’s departure by “mutual consent”.

The equation between the midfielder and club can be described as tense ever since media reports in Maldives showed Paartalu and two other BFC members in breach of COVID-19 protocols ahead of the AFC Cup playoff, which was eventually called off.

UPDATE. The club and Erik Paartalu have decided to part ways by mutual consent. We thank Erik for his time at BFC and we wish him the best for the future. pic.twitter.com/bPddTn21qu

— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) September 21, 2021

The 35-year-old even claimed that he was being denied a chance to train with the team and was also dropped from the 29-man AFC Cup squad. However, he returned to India and was training at the Inspire Institute of Sport in Ballari before Tuesday’s announcement.

Paartalu was one of BFC’s key players and was part of the side which won the ISL in 2018-19 and finished runner-up in 2017-18. He played 67 ISL games, scoring nine goals and accounting for eight assists.

As @ErikPaartalu leaves @bengalurufc, what has been your favourite memory of the midfielder?

Here's ours #HeroISL#LetsFootballpic.twitter.com/XAz8xFhdb7

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) September 21, 2021