Bagan yet to confirm participation

NEW DELHI: Not a good news for the soccer lovers of the Capital. A day before the start of the preliminaries of the 115th edition of the Durand Cup, sixteen-time champions Mohun Bagan are yet to finalise their commitment leaving the organisers in a soup over the fixtures.
“Unless the Indian Football Association (IFA) give us the official permission, we can not play in Durand.We will not approach the IFA in any case. We have old scores to settle with them,� Om Jhunjhunwala, Bagan’s top official disclosed to Times News Network on Wednesday.
IFA president Ranjit Gupta sounded adamant on the issue. “Unless Mohun Bagan play in the IFA Shield, we will not grant them permission for Durand Cup,� he maintained. Incidentally, the IFA Shield kicks-off on January 8, a day before Durand final and “for reasons unknown, Bagan are reluctant to play, though both East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting have already confirmed. We’ve had enough of this and would take serious disciplinary action if Bagan flouts rules and go for Durand.�
“How is the Shield connected with Durand at all?� Jhunjhunwala queried. “There’s a certain participation money for the Shield. They cannot force us to play in it,� he opined. “Besides, many of our players are injured and around four would be joining the Indian camp. We’ll run short of players.�
“As per our constitution, there’s no rule by which we can allow Bagan to play without the IFA’s permission,� a Durand official observed.
However, a press release on behalf of the organisers stated that Bagan had confirmed participation.
Thursday matches: IN-FC vs MEG, Bangalore; IAF vs City FC.