In the wake of a standoff with investors Shree Cement Ltd from the Indian Super League side, two groups of East Bengal supporters clashed with each other in violation of the COVID-19 protocol, near the club tent at the ground on Wednesday. According to police sources, five were injured. and taken to hospital, while about 50 were arrested after the incident in front of the Garden of Eden. Trouble started in the afternoon when supporters and other fan clubs under the banner of ‘East Bengal Real Power’ started gathering and shouting slogans for a pre-planned protest against the authorities.
Supporters with placards in their hands demanded Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s intervention once again. Another group, allegedly belonging to the club management, soon retaliated with slogans as the situation turned into violence and the police had to resort to lathi-charge.
There have been clashes between arch-rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in the past, but this is the first time supporters of the same club have fought against each other in uncontrolled scenes at the ground. “It is really unfortunate. I have never seen such a scene in my life,” said former India midfielder and East Bengal icon Mehtab Hussain.
Urging club management and investors SCL to resolve the matter amicably, he said: “I think many problems will be solved if club officials and investors sit together and discuss differences.” There has been an uproar on all sides since the club officials, led by President Dr Pranab Dasgupta and 24 executive members, issued a signed statement not to sign a ‘final binding agreement’ with SCL. General Secretary Kalyan Mazumdar said in a statement that the agreement does not protect the rights of existing club members.
“We will not sign an agreement where the members lose their fundamental rights, where the club will be handed over permanently and we will lose the rights to the land, the logo, the tent.”
The Hari Mohan Bangur-led group had already refused to “spend a penny” to build a team for the upcoming ISL season until they got the rights to the game, for which they were given the final term sheet signed by the club management. was needed.
After the exit of former investor Quess Corp last year, East Bengal entered the ISL at the last minute after SCL came on board following the intervention of state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The cement giant had signed an initial term sheet with the club in September last year after acquiring a 76 per cent stake. But the final binding of the deal has not been signed by club management, who are claiming there are “differences” from the initial term sheet.
SCL, on the other hand, said that the initial conditions in the binding agreement have not been changed and the club has so far failed to prove its point, leading to a deadlock. In this scenario, the team is yet to sign the players for the upcoming ISL season.
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