Basketball Pioneers: A New Era on the Court

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### HT Kick Off: Court Warriors

Published on: Oct 03, 2025 08:00 am IST

Discussing gameplay feels like a futile task when football is entangled in legal issues, with Mohun Bagan’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) being the latest development.

Last October, Mohun Bagan Super Giant withdrew from the Asian Champions League 2 tie against Tractor FC, citing the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel as the reason for not traveling to Tabriz. Consequently, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recorded the withdrawal of the prominent Indian club from the continent’s second-tier competition.

This year, almost on the same date, AFC replicated its action after Mohun Bagan again declined to travel for the match against Sepahan. The club explained that they have made an appeal to CAS for a fair resolution. Unlike last year, matches in the Persian Gulf Pro League and other Asian competitions continued uninterrupted despite Iran firing missiles at Israel.

#### Terse Message

What’s different this time? Aside from a terse, ambiguous statement, Mohun Bagan hasn’t shared much with its supporters. A few players broke the silence on social media, with Subhasish Bose questioning whether being an Indian club resulted in not shifting the match to a neutral venue. Jamie Maclaren mentioned on Instagram that Australians cannot visit Iran.

Through anonymous leaks to the media, Mohun Bagan hinted that they persistently reached out to the Indian Embassy in Iran and AFC but didn’t receive any replies. Details on what they sought from the embassy or why club officials seemed to commit a self-goal remain unclear.

Since August 15, when the draw for ACL2 was made, Mohun Bagan knew they’d need to travel to Iran, but they haven’t disclosed their actions in the intervening 45 days, nor have they explained why they couldn’t obtain special insurance like the Indian cricket team did during their tour of Pakistan in 2004. Prior to Mohun Bagan’s match against Ahal, head coach Jose Molina spoke about showcasing greatness beyond India’s borders. Little evidence suggests Iran is less safe now than when Molina made his statement. Unless CAS decides otherwise, Mohun Bagan may face sanctions from AFC.

The mood among Mohun Bagan supporters is largely one of embarrassment and anger, exacerbated by reports of some players vacationing abroad and the club’s refusal to release players for India assignments earlier this term. This sentiment doesn’t bode well for a club trying to capitalize on the limited football opportunities available.

Before participating in the Super Cup, for which they have requested a reduction in foreign players from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Mohun Bagan’s expensive squad will have played just five matches in two months. Pep Guardiola’s comments about Rodri not being fit to play three matches in a week, and FIFPRO’s concerns about players not having enough time to recover, seem distant from Mohun Bagan’s reality.

Their move to CAS follows closely after the Supreme Court’s ruling on the AIFF’s constitution. This event marks yet another chapter in Indian football’s history, which has seen as much legal action as play on the field. Appointments are frequently questioned, clubs contest relegation, seek CAS’s intervention for titles, and await trophies despite favorable rulings.

Attempting to steer conversations back to football appears almost Sisyphean within this context. For example, FC Goa is the only ISL team getting competitive play over the next three weeks, and even they continue to struggle in ACL2, having lost again.

### Play of The Week

Made by Kapil Narang.

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