The last match of the Calcutta Football League (CFL) Premier Division A, between East Bengal and Calcutta Customs, should be played according to the revised fixtures, at the Kalyani Stadium on Thursday, IFA secretary Joydeep Mukherjee maintained on Wednesday.
The match was originally slated for last Sunday, but had to be abandoned due to unplayable ground conditions.
However, East Bengal are unwilling to take the field on Thursday.
What makes matters more complicated is that the IFA does not want any further delay for the completion of the League and is not ready to change the date again.
“It was very difficult to get police permission for Thursday. We had to make a series of requests to various quarters.
“Everything is ready now, and if we postpone the match at the eleventh hour, that would be unfair.
“So the match is on. If any of the teams don’t turn up, a decision will be taken based on the referee’s report,” Joydeep said.
The fate of the league championship depends on this game. If East Bengal don’t turn up and play, then according to IFA rules, three points will be awarded to Calcutta Customs. And if East Bengal play, they have to win the match by at least a seven-goal margin to bag the title.
Peerless SC would be crowned champions otherwise.
Peerless SC are at the pole position of the table with 23 points from 11 matches.
But the formal announcement regarding Peerless being champions will be made after the league-sub committee meeting, which is likely to be held after the Durga Puja.
East Bengal have requested the IFA to schedule the match after October 21, as some of their players and coach Alejandro Menendez Garcia are leaving the city on Thursday evening.
Joydeep said: “Yes we have received a letter from East Bengal, but that was after we had sent them the schedule. Had they sent the letter earlier, then the thing might have been different.
“I have also received a letter from Calcutta Customs. They said it would be difficult for them to play if we schedule the match after the Pujas.
“We had already decided in a meeting, which was attended by all CFL Premier Division A clubs, that the league would be completed before the Pujas.”
