KOLKATA: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has given the green signal for a historic match between legendary yesteryear players of I-League heavyweights, Mohun Bagan and La Liga champions Barcelona in the city on 28 September, Indian Express reports.
It is likely to hand over Bagan the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the same on Monday, according to the club’s secretary Anjan Mitra.
There was confusion surrounding the game as the AIFF believed that the match was subject to clearance from higher football governing authorities such as the FIFA, UEFA and the Spanish football federation. However, in a letter sent by Barcelona itself on 13 September, it clarified that a match of this nature did not need such approval.
“No permission is required from FIFA, UEFA or the Spanish Federation. AIFF told us earlier that we need permission from them and they wrote to FIFA. Now we have got the clearance. We will officially get the NOC officially within a couple of days (most likely on Monday) from AIFF. Mohun Bagan also does not need separate permission and everything is settled and the match is on,” Mitra clarified to Indian Express.
The organisers of the event, Football Next spoke about the uncertainty in detail.
“The issue was that when Mohun Bagan approached IFA (Indian Football Association) for the match, the request was forwarded to AIFF. We already had the ground, police permission. A joint cooperation letter was also signed with ATK (Kolkata’s ISL team) addressed to the Sports Dept of Government of West Bengal stating that there is no ambiguity between us and matches can be held back to back at the Yuva Bharati. AIFF then sent a letter to Mohun Bagan which said that permission was needed from FIFA, UEFA and Federation. They also requested us that if the match could be shifted to the 24th or 25th of September because of the ISL. Mohun Bagan then clarified to AIFF that the match was already fixed before the ISL schedule and there was a mutual agreement between ATK and MB to conduct back to back games. It is just unnecessary confusion. But I am happy that the confusion has been cleared and fans will get their money’s worth.”, Football Next’s Koushik Moulik was quoted as saying to the newspaper.
The match will be taking place a day prior to the start of the ISL Season 5 at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium. Barcelona Legends are set to have the likes of Argentina’s Javier Saviola, Brazil’s Jose Edmilson and Portugal’s Simao Sabrosa amongst others.
Former India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia headlines the Mohun Bagan squad which also features the likes of Jose Ramirez Barreto, IM Vijayan, Deepak Mondal and Surkumar Singh.
