Lionel Messi's much-hyped visit to the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday lasted 22 minutes, just enough to underline everything that is wrong in Indian football and the state administration's mismanagement.
Fourteen players, including Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri, are not immediately joining the preparatory camp for next month's Asian Cup qualifying round matches against Singapore as three clubs have delayed the release of their players, which will be a cause of concern for head coach Khalid Jamil.
India have slumped to 142 in the FIFA rankings -- their lowest in nearly a decade.
But they missed a flurry of chances with the striking line-up of Manvir Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan and Liston Colaco showing little coordination upfront, underlining the lack of firepower in the absence of Roy Krishna and David Williams.
Current situation risks rendering ongoing operations untenable: ISL clubs to AIFF
Tandon said that Ferrando left no room for discussion.
Viva Kerala stunned Mohun Bagan 3-1 to register their first win in the I-league in Kolkata on Thursday.
Indian football heavyweights Mohun Bagan clinched their second I-League title with a 1-0 win over Aizawl FC with four rounds to go in the season, in Kalyani, on Tuesday. Senegalese striker Baba Diawara scored the all-important goal for Mohun Bagan in the 80th minute to beat former champions Aizawl in their 16th round match and give their supporters a memorable Holi gift.
'We tried to keep him, but there is nothing we can do'
India face hosts Tajikistan on August 29 followed by matches against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
India defender Subhasish Bose named men's player of the year; Soumya wins in women's section
Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant was spotted soaking in the football fever at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata on Monday.
Indian Super League side FC Goa was drawn along with superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia in Group D of the AFC Champions League 2.
Bengaluru FC on Tuesday claimed that its owner Parth Jindal suffered "burns and bruises" in a "cowardly attack" by a section of home fans on travelling supporters during Saturday's Indian Super League (ISL) Cup final against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in Kolkata.
Hyderabad FC maintained their unbeaten run in the Indian Super League
Mohun Bagan's Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa stepped down on Thursday following the club's ongoing poor performance in the I-League this season. Former Mohun Bagan midfielder Satyajit Chatterjee was named the team's coach for the remainder of the season.
Defending I-League champion Mohun Bagan was defeated by Aizawl Football Club (AFC) 2-1 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, in Aizawl, on Saturday.
Majority of state units favour dual posts, AIFF calls SGM on Nov 24 to vote on matter
A shaky Mohun Bagan had to sweat before skipper Bhaichung Bhutia's splendid effort earned them a hard-fought 2-1 win over Chirag United and kept them in hunt for the ONGC I-League title at the Vidyasagar Krirangan, in Barasat on Monday.
Churchill Brothers came back from behind strongly to end Mohun Bagan's unbeaten run with a 2-1 win in the 12th round match of Hero I-League at Tilak Stadium, in Vasco, on Saturday.
With just two points from three games and placed third place in the group, India have no room for error as only the top team can advance.
ATK Mohun Bagan defeated Kerala Blasters 4-2 in the opening game of the 2021-22 Indian Super League, at the Nehru stadium in Fatorda, Goa, on Friday.
Star-studded Mohun Bagan's I-League-winning players have threatened to approach the All India Football Federation if their dues, withheld owing to the coronavirus pandemic, are not cleared at the earliest. Unable to pay salaries to their players, including foreign recruits, Indian club football heavyweights Mohun Bagan have asked them to wait till the restrictions imposed to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted.
Kalinga Super Cup: FC Goa to face Jamshedpur FC in final
Legendary Kolkata-based football club, Mohun Bagan, have confirmed that Karim Bencherifa will officially take over as head coach from 18 November.
All eyes were on the 131-year-old club Mohun Bagan as they were making their ISL debut following their 'marriage' with three-time defending champions ATK.
The semi-finals will be played in a home and away format with the winners over the two legs playing the final on April 12 at the home of the higher-ranked team in the league table.
The camp is aimed at helping the Blue Tigers prepare for their two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers final round in Group C, where they will play two back-to-back matches against Singapore on October 9 at the National Stadium and on October 14 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa.
MBSG seek to overturn deficit against JFC in second leg semi-final.
There are four first-timers in Jamil's camp of 25 players -- defenders Alex Saji, Sunil Benchamin, Muhammed Uvais, and forward Manvir Singh.
The Mariners will return home for the Kolkata Derby against East Bengal on October 29.
India's football captain decided to part ways with Mohun Bagan in retaliation to the club's decision to serve him a show cause letter recently for missing practice and an exhibition match in Jalpaiguri.
Mohun Bagan has barred captain Baichung Bhutia from practicing with the team and served a showcause notice asking the footballer to explain reasons for missing number of training sessions and an exhibition match in Jalpaiguri on Monday without prior notice.
Jose Ramirez Barreto's goal in the second-half gave Mohun Bagan a 1-0 victory over a 10-man Dempo in the Federation Cup final in Kolkata on Sunday.
A late strike by Aman Deep helped JCT hold Kolkata giant's Mohun Bagan 1-1 in a 20th round match of the ONGC I-League at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana, on Saturday. It was Mohun Bagan who drew the first blood as early as in the 10th minute of the match through N S Manju who made no mistake in finding the net off Jose Baretto's pass. Down by a goal, JCT pressed hard to draw parity and ultimately managed to wipe off deficit in 80th minute through medio Aman Deep.
The 30-year-old captain of India's football team, who switched allegiance from East Bengal to Bagan in June 2006, signed for another two years saying he is very happy to continue playing with the Kolkata giants .
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 75, wishes poured in from across the country, with sporting icons Gautam Gambhir, R Praggnanandhaa, and Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker sending their heartfelt messages.
Mohun Bagan, already assured of the title, defeated Mohammedan Sporting 1-0, even as East Bengal slumped to another miserable 2-2 draw against Chirag United in the Kolkata Premier football league on Sunday.
On August 16, 1980, the Kolkata football derby between arch rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, played at the Eden Gardens (there was no Salt Lake Stadium then) witnessed a massive clash between the supporters of two teams, leading to 16 deaths.
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