AIFF mulling reduction of Bagan ban to one year: Trinamool MP

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh, who led a delegation of former Mohun Bagan players, said that there was talk of Mohun Bagan coming back in the I-League with a one-year suspension and after playing second division.

Ghosh was accompanied by former Mohun Bagan footballers Manas Bhattacharya and Bidesh Bose and met AIFF general secretary Kushal Das at the federation headquarters.

"The general secretary talked about reducing the ban to one year and Mohun Bagan playing the second division I-League. We said don't force Mohun Bagan to playing the second division. We told that the ban should be reduced and the AIFF can impose financial penalties," Gosh told PTI.

"We also requested to allow Mohun Bagan to play from the Round 17 (of I-League) onwards. Deduct the points from the East Bengal match onwards," said Ghosh who presented Das with the letter of support signed by Mohun Bagan fans and former footballers.

He said that Mohun Bagan fans and former players were not in favour of a confrontation with the AIFF and the national federation should reconsider its decision and reduce the suspension.

"Mohun Bagan is not only a club. It's an institution with historical legacy. The fans should not be punished for no fault of theirs. We have appealed to the AIFF that they can impose financial penalties but please give back football to the fans," he said.

"We are confident and hopeful that the AIFF will take all these into account while taking up the appeal by Mohun Bagan in its Executive Committee Meeting and reduce the suspension," he added. MORE