E ast Bengal set to be CFL champions after DHFC no-show
Times of India | 14 February 2025
Kolkata: The Calcutta Football League trophy is returning to the East Bengal FC tent after seven years.
Bino George's red-and-gold brigade is set to be declared champions in the CFL 2024-2025 season after Diamond Harbour FC (DHFC) — their nearest rivals in the competition — failed to show up for their match at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Thursday.
East Bengal players as well as match officials were present at the ground. The match was scheduled to kick off at 2.30 pm.
Before Thursday's match, an unbeaten East Bengal were leading the league with 41 points from 15 matches, 2 points ahead of DHFC. The DHFC's no-show is set to give East Bengal three points and a 3-0 victory according to the tournament rule. Bhawanipore Club have already given a walkover to their match against East Bengal, meaning George's team would end the league with 47 points.
"According to the match schedule, East Bengal players and match officials were present at the ground. We waited for the mandatory 30 minutes and Diamond Harbour FC didn't turn up. I'll submit my report to the IFA and the association will take the final call in this respect," match commissioner Subrata Das said.
"We didn't lose any match so far in the league and we wanted to become champions with an unbeaten run. In terms of points, we are at the top of the league. We respect any decision by the IFA," East Bengal coach George later said.
Soon after the match was declared "abandoned", a few East Bengal players like PV Vishnu, Sayan Banerjee and David Hmar, rushed to join the senior team's practice at the Salt Lake Stadium's training ground.
With Kibu Vicuna-managed DHFC scheduled to host Neroca FC at the I-League 2 on Sunday, the team management requested the IFA to reschedule their CFL clash with East Bengal, but the game's governing body refused to change the date.
DHFC were also scheduled to take on Mohun Bagan SG in their RFDL Zonal Group Stage match on Friday (Feb 14) but the IFA notified on Wednesday that the development league match was postponed in a move to pave the way for the CFL clash.
The DHFC management also said that it's not possible for them to get "mentally ready" for the match against East Bengal in such a short time's notice.
East Bengal have not won the local league since having lifted it for a record-extending 8 seasons from 2010 to 2017.