East Bengal club executive committee decides to take part in Super Cup and ISL

The East Bengal club will request Quess East Bengal FC (QEBFC) chairman Ajit Isaac to consider the decision to play both the Super Cup and the ISL after their executive committe meeting on Monday.

There was no solid ground broken in the meeting called to discuss the modus operandi following a letter from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) addressed to the club asking to clear their stance on participation in both the tournaments.

Quess East Bengal Football Club, under which the football team operates, is a 70-30 joint venture between investors Quess Corp and East Bengal. The former had sided with the union of seven clubs deciding against participating in the current edition of the Super Cup citing ideological difference with the AIFF.

Nirban Kumar

However, last week, club General Secretary Kalyan Majumdar had issued a contrasting statement, wanting the team to play the tournament in Bhubaneshwar.

Executive committee member Debabrata 'Nitu' Sarkar confirmed, "In today's meeting we have unanimously decided to take part in ISL and Super Cup. We will send a letter to our chairman Ajit Isaac to convey our decision so that he can consider."

Nirban Kumar

He continued, "At present we have several requests from former players and fans who want the club to play in these tournaments. We will request him to come and hold a meeting with us and discuss the issue. Hopefully they will respond within 48 hours."

The club faction had earlier invited Mr. Isaac or two representatives from Quess Corp, in the event of his unavailability to attend the meeting on Monday. While no one related from the Bengaluru-based business firm turned up, East Bengal have only till Wednesday to reply to the Indian FA.

Nirban Kumar

"It is unfortunate that this difference of opinion is there. That is why we want them to come and conduct a meeting with us. We will wait for 48 hours and and then take any further decision", Sarkar concluded.

These chain of events unfolded after representatives from the ISL and Ajit Isaac had a meeting around a fortnight ago over a possible inclusion for QEBFC from the 2019-20 season onwards.

While the Quess East Bengal FC officials declined to speak to Goal , Mr. Isaac could not be reached over telephone .