New Delhi: East Bengal, one of India’s most iconic football clubs, has accused the Indian Super League (ISL) organisers of systemic bias and unfair treatment, citing incidents from their recent Kolkata Derby loss to Mohun Bagan. The match, held in Guwahati, ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat for East Bengal but was marred by controversies.
The club pointed to a missed penalty decision and a questionable red card for midfielder Souvik Chakrabarti, which reduced the team to ten men and significantly impacted their chances.
These incidents, however, are only the latest in what the club describes as a long history of marginalisation. East Bengal’s officials believe they have been unfairly targeted for years, attributing the treatment partly to the outdated “refugees club” tag, a label that dates back to their formation during India’s partition era.
In a strongly-worded statement, the club has called for intervention from Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, demanding a fairer approach to officiating and governance within the league.
East Bengal alleges unfair treatment and historical bias
This is Trevor Kettle – Chief Refereeing Officer of AIFF. One of the worst refereeing desicion of all time as he blews the half time whistle just seconds before the half time.
He has said today that Apuia’s handball was not a penalty.
📷 Collected#IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/VJan0pGp13
— প্রবাসে ইস্টবেঙ্গল – Probashe East Bengal ❤️💛 (@ProbasheEB) January 13, 2025
East Bengal expressed frustration over decisions made during Saturday’s derby, including a missed penalty call and the contentious red card shown to midfielder Souvik Chakrabarti. These incidents left the team with ten players, leading to their narrow defeat. The club alleged that such refereeing mishaps are part of a broader pattern against them in ISL matches.
According to the club’s statement, they have been grappling with biased decisions for over a decade, both in the I-League and ISL. Despite raising numerous complaints to the authorities, the situation appears to have worsened. They believe their identity as the “refugees club,” a label rooted in the post-partition era, has contributed to their ongoing challenges in Indian football.
Highlighting this issue, East Bengal compared their limited success in ISL with their triumphs in non-ISL tournaments like the Durand Cup and Super Cup, suggesting that external factors might be hindering their progress.
The club intends to meet the Union Sports Minister to discuss these grievances and demand reforms. Emphasising football’s unifying spirit, East Bengal urged authorities to ensure fairness, transparency, and inclusivity within Indian football.
With the legacy of East Bengal deeply tied to resilience, their fight for justice in the ISL reflects their unwavering commitment to both their heritage and future success.
Despite calls for VAR, the AIFF’s reluctance to introduce the technology has led to continued frustrations among ISL clubs, with East Bengal and others demanding solutions to reduce refereeing errors. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
