CFL 2016 Kolkata Derby: East Bengal declared winners after Mohun Bagan fail to show up

Kolkata: In a big blow for Bengal football, the blockbuster Kolkata derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in the Calcutta Football League was canceled after the Mariners failed to turn up for the match.

Bagan opted for this decision after the organizers refused to shift the date of this high-profile match.

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That's it. East Bengal have been declared winners of the Kolkata Derby.

@eastbengalfc declared winners of Kolkata derby as @Mohun_BaganAC don't show up. #KolkataLeague. @HTSportsNews — Dhiman Sarkar (@DhimanHT) September 7, 2016

Since 1985 first time that Kolkata derby fell through because of a no-show. Then too it was @Mohun_BaganAC. @HTSportsNews — Dhiman Sarkar (@DhimanHT) September 7, 2016

Some very strong reactions from Indian football lovers right through the day with regards to this fiasco

We could win by a walkover if Mohun Bagan don't field a team. #JoyEastBengal #KEB #KolkataDerby. — Souvik Saha (@SouvikSahaa) September 7, 2016

The Kolkata derby fiasco is showing EB/MB in bad light which they're not realising. One team is benefiting from this, ATK. #IndianFootball — Nikhil Jadhav (@42nikhil) September 7, 2016

As Mohun Bagan supporter extremely disappointed @ unsporting & cowardly stand of not playing Derby taken by club officials. This is not MB — Dipankar Choudhury (@Dipzbong22) September 7, 2016

So East Bengal to win CFL for the 7th consecutive time after Mohun Bagan decides to walk-out. Seriously IFA ?? WTF are you guys doing? — Sceptico (@RandomBongVibe) September 7, 2016

Time Mohun Bagan realise no one apart from a few thousand people care if they play. Need to stop tantrums &focus on bigger, important things — Mihir Vasavda (@mihirsv) September 7, 2016

@Mohun_BaganAC :- The club is our pride, not for business. Please play the derby. We need to show the team spirit not that ego clash. #CFL — Ritabrata Mandal (@rritabrata) September 7, 2016

Bagan fans have made a passionate appeal to the club to field a team against their arch-rivals.

As things stand however, EB will be crowned kings of Kolkata.

Stay tuned, as we bring you all the updates regarding today's #KolkataDerby. — KF East Bengal (@eastbengalfc) September 7, 2016

As it stands, we could win by a walkover if Mohun Bagan don't field a team. #JoyEastBengal #KEB — KF East Bengal (@eastbengalfc) September 7, 2016

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Backdrop

The Indian Football Association (IFA) on Tuesday said they're not budging to Mohun Bagan's demands of postponing the match, while the Mariners said they're not turning up at the Kalyani Stadium on Wednesday, unless it's deferred.

Should there be a walkover, East Bengal would be declared champions Calcutta Football League Premier Division champions for a record seventh successive time, an instance that had last happened in 1985 when Mohun Bagan did not turn up.

The prestigious match was slated to be held at the Kalyani Stadium in the outskirts with renovation process going on in city's only venue Vivekanada Yuva Bharati Krirangan ahead of the next year's U-17 World Cup.

However, the match was mired in controversy after a makeshift structure to enhance the capacity to 16,000 did not meet safety requirements and Mohun Bagan cited a shortfall in the tickets made available to their 6234 club members.

The Bengal governing body, Indian Football Association, however, said it was not an embarrassment.

(With PTI inputs)