By Mark Baber
January 15 – The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has lifted its decision to ban Mohun Bagan after the team refused to play the second half of an Indian League match against East Bengal following violence last December.
Trouble started in the derby match in Kolkata, when Bagan’s Okoli Odafa was sent off for dissent. This was followed by crowd disturbances and missiles raining down from the Salt Lake Stadium stands. Recent game between these historic rivals have been plagued by crowd violence – including the deaths of 16 fans in 1980.
A stone hit Bagan’s Syed Rahim Nabi, in the face on 43 minutes. Nabi was hospitalise and had two fractured bones re-set.
Police then lathi (baton) charged the 90,000 strong crowd to restore order. The game restarted after 15 minutes but Bagan officials held a meeting and announced they would not play any further.
Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra argued the referee should have called the game off. “He did not have the ability to supervise such a big game. He had never supervised any game which had saw an attendance of even 10,000,” said Mitra.
The AIFF has reportedly now lifted the two-year suspension (which would have meant four years out of the I-League) and instead imposed a Rs20m fine. Bagan will also resume the current I-League season on zero points.
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