The Indian Super League (ISL) champion Mohun Bagan Super Giant has insisted on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to turn the Durand Cup into an All -Domestic tournament by excluding foreign players.
In a letter sent to the AIFF this week, the club stated: «We, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, ask you to turn the Durand Cup into a domestic player tournament. This makes the development of Indian players possible and offers more opportunities for Indian Spitsen and Centrumbacks to play.»
Mohun Bagan is drawn in group B next to Diamond Harbor FC, Border Security Force FT and Mohammedan Sporting. The campaign starts on July 31 against Mohammedan Sporting.
During an AIFF -executing committee meeting, President Kalyan Chaubey discussed proposals to reduce the number of foreign players in domestic competitions. Mohun Bagan believes that the Durand Cup offers an ideal opportunity to take a step in that direction.
Currently, ISL and I-League clubs can register six foreigners, with only four allowed on the field at any time. On the other hand, the Super Cup allows six foreign players per team.
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«If the club fields players such as Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren Velden, where does Suhail Bhat play? The main goal is to give Indian players more playing time» Sportstar.
The move is also amid uncertain about the long-term obligations of foreign players at ISL clubs. In addition to MacLaren, whose deal has until 2028, all other foreign players in the club have contracts that will end next summer.
The club also has a verbal agreement with Brazilian attacker Robson Robinho.
On July 18, the Supreme Court will express about the AIFF -Constitution, which could clarify the future of the ISL and facilitate smoother contract negotiations. With the Durand Cup that starts only four days later, the timing is a challenge.
Although making the Durand Cup a full Indian tournament may not immediately go to Mohun Bagan, it would make it the same by bringing all participating teams to an equally disadvantage.
The club can also buy more time to negotiate contract extensions with its foreign players.
A change of heart
Mohun Bagan had almost decided to withdraw from the Durand Cup, after the leadership of seven other ISL clubs. However, the club sent a letter to the Indian forces – the tournament organizers – to resolve conditions for their participation.
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«The club wrote to the army with four major demands, starting with the availability of a practice place. The team is currently training in the Astro Turf of the National Center of Excellence, because construction is underway on Mohun Bagan,» the source added.
Other requirements include solving ticketing problems, tackling small administrative problems and ensuring that the Tournamentema did not clash with the commitments of the Calcutta Football League of the club.
The army agreed last week with all the conditions and took care of Mohun Bagan’s participation.
The 2025 Durand Cup contains 24 teams divided into six groups of four. The group winners and the two best second placed teams will continue to the knockout phase, which will consist of eliminators with one leg. The final will be held at the Salt Lake Stadium of Kolkata on August 22.
