Derby Delay: ISL 2024-25 Kolkata Derby to be postponed due to lack of security

The Kolkata Derby, one of the most fiercest rivalry in the World and the mostly anticipated game in Indian Football, is set to be postponed due to lack of security.

The return fixture of the Kolkata Derby game between Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC is all set to be postponed. The main reason behind this decision is the lack of security.

Kolkata Derby is attended by around 50-60 thousand supporters, which makes security the top-most concern. On the other hand, Gangasagar mela, an annual festival for the Hindus, also sees a huge number of pilgrims. Last year, the number of pilgrims, according to Aroop Biswas, the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Power, and Housing in the Government of West Bengal, was one Crore!

The Gangasagar Mela is the second largest fair in India, after the Kumbh Mela. Gangasagar mela is held every year at Kapilmuni’s Ashram, located at Gangasagar, West Bengal. The Mela is held every year on Makar Sankranti, mainly on 14th and 15th January, but the preparations start way before. This year the number of pilgrims attending the Mela is expected to cross last year’s number. The preparations are set to begin from January 10th, 2025. So the Government of West Bengal will be forced to supply a huge number of police and other necessary security forces. As a result, there would not be much force left to provide at the Salt Lake stadium and host the game. The Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate has already notified Mohun Bagan SG, the hosts of the game.

The first leg fixture of the ISL 2024-25 Kolkata Derby was won by the Mariners. East Bengal FC were at a low point at that time. That game was Oscar Bruzon’s first ever game in charge of East Bengal FC. But right now, East Bengal is in a much better shape. The postponement of the Derby can be a boon in disguise for East Bengal. If the Derby gets postponed, there will be high chances of Saul Crespo returning. Also the management is looking a replacement for Madih Talal. The new foreigner will get time to adjust to the new team if the match does gets postponed. East Bengal till now does not have any win against their arch-rivals in ISL derbies. The Red and Golds have drawn one and lost the rest. Oscar and his men will have to wait for their fight for the first three points in ISL derby.

Though there is not official announcement yet, but the derby is all set to be postponed. If that cannot be done, the management might try to host the game in a different city, In that case Kalinga Stadium at Odisha and JRD Tata Complex at Jamshedpur will be their first choices. But there is more chances of the game getting postponed, rather being rescheduled to a different venue. Mohun Bagan SG does not have any more games this year, while East Bengal FC will play their last game of 2024 tomorrow, against a struggling Hyderabad FC. The Red and Golds are expected to have an easy win over The Nizams.