Kolkata: The 116th edition of the premier IFA Shield is set to lose some sheen with 21-time winners and local champions Mohun Bagan threatening to pull out of the tournament if it is not postponed to May.
Mohun Bagan shot off a letter to the secretary of the Indian Football Association on Wednesday, asking for rescheduling the March 3-16 tournament to May.
The IFA, however, said the tournament would take place on schedule and they would have to seek a replacement if Mohun Bagan did not reconsider.
"After much consideration we have decided that unfortunately we cannot reschedule the tournament. We have asked them to reconsider. Otherwise we will have to look for a replacement team," IFA General Secretary Utpal Ganguli said.
He said that the formal announcement would be made on the tournament eve on March 2.
Earlier, in a letter to Ganguli, Mohun Bagan General Secretary Anjan Mitra wrote: "At present, six players of the team are doing national duty. Three more have been called for the India U-22 coaching camp.
"Foreigner duo of Jose Barreto and Hudson Lima Silva are injured and undergoing rehabilitation. Odafa Okolie is not fit to play competitive matches. Under the present circumstances, we will surely participate if the tournament is postponed to May."
Comments
0 comment