Unprecedented scenes: Kolkata derby cancelled but fans united in protest

East Bengal and Mohun Bagan’s Kolkata derby in the Durand Cup on August 18 was cancelled a day prior. The authorities cited a lack of police force available to host the match as the reason.

However, hundreds of West Bengal Police, Kolkata Police and RAF personnel were seen outside the stadium at 4pm, when both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan SG fans gathered to protest against the rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical College.

Kolkata derby sees unprecedented scenes as rival fans United for common cause

FOOTBALL UNITED against INJUSTICE!!

Unbelievable scenes in Kolkata as more than thousands supporters of East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan flooded the streets, despite the cancellation of the Kolkata Derby.

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey also joined the march.… pic.twitter.com/RN0OdVmYD1

— IFTWC – Indian Football (@IFTWC) August 18, 2024

There is no love lost between two sets of supporters when it comes to football. However, both of them, accompanied by Mohammedan Sporting fans, participated in a peaceful protest in spite of the police engaging in a lathi charge at 4pm. Some people were forcefully picked up in prison vans, but were later released.

In spite of heavy rains around 7:45pm, the protests did not cease and the police were left as bystanders after they couldn’t engage with the gathering later on.

Both sets of fans were planning to unfurl tifos, banners and slogans in protest of the case at RG Kar. And now, fans have been left with the question – if so many police personnel were available to adddress the protestors, why wasn’t the derby played anyway?