New Delhi: The All India Football Federation’s players status committee has postponed the hearing on Anwar Ali’s controversial transfer to East Bengal from Mohun Bagan till October 14 after a request for adjournment was made by Delhi FC.
The hearing was set to happen on September 30 after PCS’s interim order on September 19 gave Ali a no objection certificate to play for East Bengal.
He had unilaterally terminated his four-year loan deal with Mohun Bagan that his then parent club Delhi FC had agreed with the reigning Indian Super League Shield champions.
The stopper back was found guilty of terminating his Bagan contract “without just cause” after which he entered into a five-year mega buck deal with crosstown rivals East Bengal.
The 24-year-old was banned from playing for four months and along with Delhi FC and East Bengal were judged guilty of flouting transfer rules, for which together they had to pay a compensation of Rs 12.90 crore to Bagan. Delhi FC and East Bengal were additionally banned from doing business in two transfer windows.
On appeal, the Delhi High Court set aside those sanctions on account of a delay from the PSC in providing the grounds on which the judgement was delivered to guilty parties and ordered fresh hearings.
The PSC then held a fresh hearing on September 16 and handed an NOC to Ali, following which he made his debut for East Bengal in their 1-2 defeat to Kerala Blasters on September 22.
A second hearing was to be be held on September 30 to decide on the legality of transfer but now it has been pushed to October 14 upon Delhi FC’s request.
Delhi FC’s lawyer had requested the arguments to be postponed to “early November” citing a medical condition for which he has been advised rest.
“A request for adjournment has been received by one of the counsels for Delhi FC seeking accommodation on personal grounds until 6th October 2024,” the PSC wrote to all concerned parties.
“Due to the grounds on which adjournment is sought, and in view of the non- availability already communicated by East Bengal counsel on the last date of the hearing; the hearing originally scheduled for 30th September 2024 is adjourned to provide an opportunity of hearing to all Parties.
“The hearing is accordingly tentatively rescheduled for 14th October 2024 at 5 PM.”
Extension of temporary relief for Ali
Till a fresh judgement is passed on legality of Ali’s forced transfer move, he is free to play for East Bengal till October 14.
During this period, the red and gold outfit host FC Goa at Salt Lake stadium on Friday (September 27) and then travel to Jamshedpur on October 5.
These two matches are followed by the blockbuster clash with Bagan on October 19, in which East Bengal would love to have Ali, having lost both their opening two matches in the ISL.
Accordingly the request was made for the hearing to be pushed back till November, which wasn’t accepted.
“One lawyer have another case while another one has underwent a surgery,” Delhi FC’s co-owner Ranjit Bajaj told News9 Sports, explaining the cause of the request for adjournment.
The PAC accepted it but noted that no further requests for adjournment will be entertained.
“It is clarified that no further adjournment shall be granted and in case of non-availability of counsels, then the parties are requested to make alternate arrangements of duly authorised counsels, failing which the matter shall be adjudicated in accordance with regulations.
“It is further clarified that there shall be no change in the deadline provided for submissions already communicated.”
The AIFF has decided that the next hearing on Anwar Ali’s transfer to East Bengal from Mohun Bagan will happen on October 14 instead of September 30. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today