The much-anticipated Durand Cup derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, originally scheduled for Sunday at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, has been abruptly called off due to the intense unrest gripping the city. The final decision emerged from a meeting between Kolkata Police officials and the organizers of the tournament, leading to widespread disappointment among football fans.
Kolkata has recently been engulfed in mass protests following the harrowing incident on August 9, where a postgraduate trainee doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was allegedly raped and murdered. This incident has triggered significant outrage throughout the city, significantly affecting the local populace and prompting a call for justice. In response to the crime, the Indian Medical Association has announced a 24-hour nationwide strike on Saturday to express solidarity and demand justice.
The peaceful streets of the city are now echoing with the cries for justice, with an expectation of around one lakh protestors gathering near the 66,000-capacity Salt Lake Stadium. The fan clubs of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have also voiced their support for the protests, escalating the tension around the scheduled match.
“On behalf of the Durand Cup Organizing Committee, this is to regretfully inform you that the final Group A fixture between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Emami East Bengal FC, scheduled to be played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on August 18, 2024, at 7.00 pm, stands abandoned,” stated the Durand Cup Media team. In addition, the pre-derby press conference that was to take place on August 17, 2024, at 5:30 pm has also been canceled.
Fans holding tickets for the highly anticipated match will receive refunds, assured by their ticketing partner, Bookmyshow. “The dates and the refund process will be notified within the next two days,” stated a representative from the ticketing service.
It remains unclear whether the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the governing body of the sport in the country, will award a point each to both teams following the derby cancellation. Further questions also loom over whether the knockout stage matches and the final clash, which is scheduled for August 31 at the Salt Lake Stadium, will need to be relocated to maintain public safety.
The Mohun Bagan vs. East Bengal derby was set to be the season’s inaugural derby match and the concluding league match of the tournament.
. Currently, Mohun Bagan leads East Bengal on goal difference, with both teams standing at six points each. The top six group winners and the two best second-placed teams will progress to the quarterfinal stage.
Despite the match cancellation, fervent supporters from both clubs have pledged to unite and voice their demands for justice. A joint poster issued by Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fan clubs boldly states, “Sarkar maath atakale amra raasta atkabo (If the government stops us from entering the stadium, we will block the roads).”
Referring to the sudden change of events as a ‘Black Day’ for Kolkata Maidan, Prasenjit Sarkar, president of the Mariners’ Base Camp, expressed his dismay. “The government has dealt a severe blow to football by calling off the derby. Their action demonstrates a desire to impose autocratic rule, and we cannot silently stand by,” Sarkar told PTI.
“The fans from both clubs will join together tomorrow for a common cause: justice for the RG Kar victim. Thousands will gather on the streets opposite the stadium to ensure that their voices are heard,” said Sarkar.
Adding to the collective sentiment, Rabi Shankar Sen of ‘East Bengal the Real Power,’ declared that fans would gather in large numbers in front of the stadium’s VIP gate, stating, “Politics should never be allowed in the stadium. This time we will stand up together for a bigger cause. Together, with tifos and banners, we will demand justice. They may try to silence us, but we will not let our voices go unheard.”
As the days pass, the city remains on edge, waiting to see how the situation will unfold. With agency inputs, it is clear that both Kolkata and its passionate football fans are experiencing an unprecedented intersection of sports and social justice, underscoring the socio-political complexities that continue to influence public life in the historic city.
(With agency inputs)
