Police banish football from Kolkata by refusing security citing elections; IPL is okay though

A FEW DAYS AGO we reported that the season-ending clash between Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC, scheduled to be held at Barasat on 24th April, may run into trouble due to elections in that area being held on on 25th April.

But it turns out that wasn't the only game in trouble. The Kolkata Police have once again endangered football in the city by stating that due to elections they will not be able to provide security to any I-League match during the month of April.

That puts a total of 4 matches under question mark, including East Bengal vs Mumbai FC on 5th April, Mohun Bagan vs DSK Shivajians on 9th April, East Bengal vs Sporting Clube de Goa on 16th April and Mohun Bagan vs Bengaluru FC on 24th April.

Interestingly, the police are happily providing security at the couple of IPL matches being held at the Eden Gardens at that time.

The football clubs from Kolkata are already being forced to play the crucial Kolkata Derby away from the city in Siliguri. Now, a decline from the police to support their remaining home fixtures has landed them in a state where they find themselves banished from the city in the all-important final month of the I-League where both clubs happen to be in the race to lift the title.

Both clubs have written to the police to ask them to reconsider their position, but speculation has already begun on alternative venues. The nearest available arena is the Kalyani Stadium. It has a small capacity and does not have floodlights, but anywhere else - Siliguri and Guwahati seem to be in contention - would be far to taxing for the fans to travel.