Kiyan Nassiri Giri (25) of Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Sayan Banerjee (84) of East Bengal FC battle for the ball during an Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 football match at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata on Saturday, February 3, 2024. | Image Credit: PTI

The first Kolkata derby of the season between city giants Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Emami East Bengal FC has been called off due to growing protests against the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. The decision to “cancel” the final match of the Durand Cup Group A was taken a day before the scheduled date as the police authority in charge of security arrangements at the Salt Lake Stadium – Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate – did not deploy sufficient forces.

“On behalf of the Durand Cup Organising Committee, I regret to inform you that the final Group A match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Emami East Bengal FC, scheduled to be played at the Salt Lake Stadium on August 18, 2024 at 7:00 pm, has been cancelled,” the Durand Cup Media Committee said in a statement.

While the official statement did not give a specific reason, the organizers unofficially said that the police station in charge of the match could not provide the necessary security for a derby that usually attracts more than 60,000 fans, citing the “prevailing situation” that prevented most of the personnel from dealing with the flood of civil protests that take place daily in different parts of the city and its neighboring districts.

The organisers – the Indian Army and the Government of West Bengal – also feared that there could be protests and demonstrations before or during the match that could flood the stands and cause greater unrest.

While the Kolkata derby has been called off, the organisers have provisionally informed the teams that they will award one point to each team. Since both teams are level on six points with two wins each, the extra point will not change their current positions. Mohun Bagan SG will finish first on goal difference and advance to the quarterfinals, while East Bengal will also likely progress as one of the two second-placed teams.