East Bengal, Delhi FC also face transfer window bans following player’s contract termination and transfer
PANAJI
Anwar Ali, former FC Goa superstar and prominent Indian footballer, has stirred up controversy in Indian football by terminating his loan contract with Mohun Bagan SG and moving to East Bengal. Ali ended his four-year loan deal with Mohun Bagan on 9 July , and returned to his parent club, Delhi FC. Just a day later, he signed a transfer agreement with East Bengal for a five-year deal worth Rs 2.5 crores.
However, the transfer has led to significant fallout. The AIFF’s Players’ Status Committee (PSC) found that Ali’s contract termination with Mohun Bagan was unjust. The PSC's final decision, announced on 10 September, included several penalties for Ali, Delhi FC, and East Bengal.
Penalties and fines
1. Anwar Ali: Ali will face a four-month sporting ban starting from the first matchday of the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) season. He is also responsible for paying half of the Rs 12.90 crore compensation to Mohun Bagan SG, as agreed in the tripartite transfer agreement.
2. East Bengal FC: The club will cover the remaining half of the Rs 12.90 crore compensation. Additionally, East Bengal will be barred from signing or registering new players during the 2024 winter and 2025 summer transfer windows. The total cost of acquiring Ali, including the transfer fee, salary, and fines, is Rs 32.95 crores.
3. Delhi FC: Delhi FC will face a transfer ban for two windows but will not have to pay any compensation. This is due to the agreement made between the parties involved.
Breakdown of the fines
The Rs 12.90 crore fine is divided as follows:
Rs 8.40 crores for the remaining value of Ali’s contract with Mohun Bagan SG, compared to his new contract with East Bengal.
Rs 2 crores for remuneration already paid to Delhi FC by Mohun Bagan under the loan agreement.
Rs 2.50 crores for other damages, including the cost of finding a replacement for Ali.
All parties involved have the option to appeal the PSC's decision to the AIFF Appeals Committee. If an appeal is made, the financial compensation will be put on hold until the Appeals Committee reaches a final verdict. However, lifting the bans will require a stay order from the Appeals Committee.
Timeline of Events:
July 9: Anwar Ali terminates his loan contract with Mohun Bagan.
July 10: Ali requests to be registered back at Delhi FC.
July 12: Mohun Bagan asks Ali to rejoin the team by July 19.
July 17: Ali presents his case to the PSC.
July 19: Ali does not join Mohun Bagan’s training as requested.
August 2: The PSC lists the case for hearing.
August 3: The PSC rules the contract termination as unjust.
August 10: Ali seeks a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the PSC.
August 11: The PSC grants the NOC but warns Ali to proceed with caution.
August 12: East Bengal completes Ali’s registration on a five-year deal.
August 23: The PSC holds the final hearing.
September 10: The PSC delivers its final decision
