Mohun Bagan face point deduction in the Calcutta Football League

Mohun Bagan could be eight points behind East Bengal if the IFA decide against them

Mohun Bagan will have to face the possibility of dropped points in the ongoing Calcutta Football League due to an error committed by the club during their last match against Tollygunge Agragami. The Kolkata giants won the game 3-1 with the help of two goals from new signing Dudu.

According to the rules set up in the Calcutta Football League, one U-23 player has to be on the pitch for a team playing a match at any point of time. The rule is set up by the Indian Football Association(IFA), under whose jurisdiction the CFL is conducted.

Mohun Bagan had two U-23 players, Suman Hazra and Azharuddin Mullick, in their starting eleven against Tollygunge. Suman was taken off in the 65th minute to be replaced by Sukhen Dey while Azharuddin, who was instrumental in setting up the opening goal for Dudu, was replaced by Ram Malik in the 85th minute.

With that substitution, Bagan unknowingly broke the rules of the tournament and hence earning themselves the chance of having points shaved off their total. Bagan had, however, brought on Pankaj Moula as a replacement for Kean Lewis, but the youngster has not been registered as a U-23 player.

Mohun Bagan are already in trouble in the CFL, a competition they have not won since 2009, as they currently lie third in the table five points behind rivals East Bengal. If the Mariners do face a reduction of points, their challenge for the CFL crown is almost over because with just four games left in the season making up eight points would be a huge ask.

Bagan coach, Sanjoy Sen will be rueing his decision of taking off Azharuddin as his team were in a comfortable 3-1 lead and it looked highly unlikely that Tollygunge would make a comeback into the match. A Dudu Omagbemi goal on either side of a Lalkamal Bhowmick goal was enough to hand the I-League Champions the lead in the first half of the match.

Even when Adelaja scored a goal in the 79th minute, Mohun Bagan looked very comfortable in the closing minute of the match. Tollygunge are not happy with the breach of rules, but the IFA will wait for the match report by referee Prabir Dhar before making a decision about the points awarded. In any case, it looks highly unlikely that Tollygunge would be awarded the points even if the IFA decide that Bagan deserve a penalty.