Following Indian National Team Anwar Ali’s acrimonious transfer to East Bengal FC, the AIFF Player Status Committee has banned Anwar Ali for four months and handed out two-transfer window registration bans to Delhi FC and East Bengal FC and a cumulative fine of 12.9 crores to be paid by the three parties to Mohun Bagan.
This will result in Anwar Ali not featuring for East Bengal FC in the first half of the ISL 2024-25 season and the group stage of the AFC Challenge League under Article 20.4. Additionally, the player will not be able to represent the national team.
Further, under Article 20.6, EBFC and Delhi FC will not be allowed to register players for the next two windows – the January 2025 winter window and the subsequent summer transfer window. The clubs will only be able to register players in January 2026.
With respect to the fine, the Player Status Committee has held all three parties – Delhi FC, East Bengal and Anwar Ali liable to pay the hefty fine of 12.9 crores under Article 20.3. However, as per Anwar Ali’s (Selling Club: Delhi FC) contract with East Bengal, only the buying club and Anwar Ali are responsible to pay the fine.
The four-member committee also indicated that East Bengal FC and Delhi FC were guilty of inducement. The committee also maintained that it failed to find a “just cause” in reference to Anwar Ali’s termination of his contract with Mohun Bagan.
BACKGROUND
Anwar Ali had earlier terminated his four-year loan agreement worth 11 crores with Mohun Bagan from Delhi FC after one year and joined East Bengal FC permanently on a five-year contract from Delhi FC. Mohun Bagan moved to the AIFF PSC who granted an NOC to the player to enable his move to East Bengal. The final order of the case came out today which resulted in bans and fine for the parties involved.
The following comments are from the temporary order/NOC issued by the PSC earlier before his move to East Bengal in which the committee had observed that the player terminated his contract without “just cause,” but since it concerned the livelihood of the player, it allowed him to return to Delhi FC:
Anwar Ali gets NOC and goes back to Delhi FC. He can then sign for a club of his choice. However, the player registration is at the risk of the player as well as any other interested parties, and is subject to the final order. Next hearing on Aug 22 at 5pm.
As Mohun Bagan had not issued NOC despite having conceded termination, whilst reserving its rights to claim sanctions and damages, it is hereby directed that this order may be treated as an NOC for purposes of player reintegration and registration.
The player status committee has also clarified that the registration is provisional and is without prejudice to the rights of Mohun Bagan and is at the risk of the player, as well as any other interested parties, and is subject to the final order of the committee.
-Marcus Mergulhao, TOI
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