'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Aizawl FC hosted East Bengal at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Tuesday in an I-League clash, with the match ending in a goalless draw.
During the game, however, a section of supporters of the defending league champions displayed a banner calling former Aizawl and current East Bengal manager Khalid Jamil a traitor.
In case you didn't know...
Under Jamil's management, Aizawl FC became the first club from the north-eastern part of India to win the I-League league title. Last season, underdogs Aizawl thwarted the likes of Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal to win the league crown and much of the credit went to Jamil.
The heart of the matter
After winning the league, Jamil was poached by East Bengal in a desperate attempt to win the trophy. He was even offered the biggest pay package in the I-League and was given the budget to buy the players he needed.
This is the first time the 40-year-old has come back to Aizawl after leading them to the title. On Monday, Jamil, in the pre-match press conference, also cleared out the negative air surrounding his return as he said, “I didn’t leave Aizawl. Aizawl told me to go.”
However, the club's supporters were not happy with their former manager leaving the team in such a fashion and they made their opinions visible with the banner.
What's next?
East Bengal currently sit in second place on the league table after two consecutive draws against Churchill Brothers and Aizawl. On Sunday, they will take on rivals Mohun Bagan in the season's second Kolkata derby.
Author's take
It is quite disappointing to see Aizawl FC's supporters criticizing their former manager for leaving the club, especially when it was the club who decided to not keep him.
