The highly anticipated Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant took a controversial twist on Thursday as the Green and Maroon club urged its fans to abstain from attending the return leg Indian Super League match citing disparities in ticket pricing.
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Disparity in Ticket Pricing Sparks Controversy: Mohun Bagan Advocates Boycott
The Green and Maroon brigade advocated for a boycott citing the significant price gap between certain Mohun Bagan stands, which are priced at more than double the cost of East Bengal stands, despite East Bengal hosting the match. East Bengal stand prices range from Rs 100 to Rs 1000, whereas Mohun Bagan prices vary from Rs 250 to Rs 3000.
Mohun Bagan remarked in a statement that it was unprecedented anywhere in the world for away team fans to be required to purchase match tickets at a price nearly double that of home team fans. They described this situation as shameful.
“It is unprecedented anywhere in the world that away team fans will have to buy match tickets at a price which is almost double than that of the home team fans… This is shameful,” as per their official statement.
The release conveyed their stance, expressing condemnation of East Bengal’s unsportsmanlike behavior. They declared their decision not to purchase or sell any tickets for the ISL derby match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal Club. The communication was presented as their official boycott call for the upcoming derby.
The release stated, “We unequivocally condemn the unsportsmanlike behavior of East Bengal and have decided that we will neither buy nor sell any tickets for the ISL derby match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal Club. This communication may be considered as our official boycott call for the upcoming derby.”
Debate Over Ticket Pricing Disparity in Kolkata Derby: East Bengal’s Claims
In response, an executive committee member of East Bengal, Debabrata Sarkar, described the situation as “sad” and stated that in the future, they would take measures to prevent it from occurring again. Sarkar mentioned that the ticket pricings are determined by Emami (principal owners) and expressed hope that such an incident would not reoccur. He also indicated that he had discussed the matter with the sports minister, but currently, no action can be taken.
“The ticket pricings are done by Emami (principal owners)… It is a sad situation and hope that it’s not happened in future. I’ve spoken to the sports minister but as of now nothing can be done,” Sarkar said as quoted by PTI.
Anandbazar Online contacted Emami, principal investor of East Bengal. It is said on their behalf that in the previous derby the ticket prices were different for the supporters of the two teams. It should be noted that the host of that derby was Mohun Bagan. Emami also claimed that overpriced tickets were kept for East Bengal fans in that derby. But the ticket prices were lower for Mohun Bagan supporters. In accordance with that ‘tradition’, Emami has discriminated the price of tickets this time. They also claim that this is the practice of ticket prices in international football as well. Football leagues in different countries keep ticket prices low for home team supporters.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant has completely denied this claim. On their behalf, the ticket price was equal for the fans of the two teams in the last derby. Those prices were 200, 300, 400 and 500 rupees. Mohun Bagan Super Giant claims, Emami is not right. Never in the derby’s 103-year history has there been such a disparity in ticket prices for supporters of the two teams. Mohun Bagan claims that this does not happen in any league in the world, dismissing the example that Emami is giving in international football.
In fact, in the last derby, ticket prices were the same for supporters of both teams. However, a source from Maidan claimed that even though the price of the ticket was the same, the host of the match, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, did not give the cheapest ticket (Rs. 200) to East Bengal. Many people think that Emami East Bengal has kept ticket prices higher for Mohun Bagan fans this time to take revenge.
Mohun Bagan fans are naturally angry about this incident. They have to pay more expensive tickets. While East Bengal fans can watch the game for 100 rupees, Mohun Bagan fans have to spend at least 250 rupees to watch the match. Many fans of East Bengal are not happy with such a decision. According to them it is a bad example. This could happen in all derbies in the coming days.
When the last two sides met in the derby on 3rd February, both clubs ended the match with a point each as the game concluded in a tie.
The match was rescheduled from 7.30 PM to 8.30 PM due to the Trinamool Congress Brigade Rally earlier in the day.
As for the current standings in the ISL table, Mohun Bagan holds the 3rd position with 33 points from 16 matches, while East Bengal is positioned at 10th place, having accumulated 18 points from 18 matches.
