In a rather shocking revelation, Mohun Bagan SG general secretary, Debashish Dutta, has announced that the club is considering leaving the IFA. The Mariners were recently involved in a no-show for their CFL match against rivals East Bengal.Â
After failing to show up 30 minutes following kickoff time, the referee awarded all three points to the Red and Gold side. Mohun Bagan’s absence was in response to inefficient scheduling carried out by the IFA, with the club planning to keep the reserves fresh in light of their first team injury crisis.
Mohun Bagan SG plan to leave IFA for Odisha or Jharkhand Â
Dutta added that Mohun Bagan SG were looking into the possibility of relocating from the IFA to the Odisha FA or Jharkhand FA, owing to the rising number of clashes they have faced in the last few years.
The Mariners were also involved in a no-show during the 2016 CFL derby, and the second occurrence seems to have brought additional frustration within the club.
Competing in the AFC Cup as well as the ISL, Mohun Bagan SG players have been stretched thin this season. With several players missing due to injury, their decision to keep the reserve team fresh has taken a toll on their participation in the CFL. They run the risk of punishment from the IFA if they can’t fulfil their obligations to play as well, and things could turn ugly if they double down on their desire to relocate.