NEW DELHI: Mohun Bagan, the century-old football club, has accused Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) of high-handedness and curbing the freedom of their fans from entering Eden Gardens while wearing the club's iconic jersey. The incident unfolded during the match between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which shares common owners with Mohun Bagan in the RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, and KKR on Saturday in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
LSG, in a befitting tribute to Mohun Bagan's 132-year-old legacy, proudly donned the green-and-maroon colours—the trademark attire of the football club. The match turned out to be a thrilling contest, with LSG securing a nail-biting one-run victory, thereby clinching their second successive playoff berth.
Expressing disappointment and concern over the incident, Mohun Bagan's general secretary, Debashish Dutta, released a statement shedding light on the situation. He emphasised the significance of the match for Mohun Bagan's supporters, as LSG showcased the new Green and Maroon Jersey. However, Dutta alleged that the management of KKR took measures to restrict Mohun Bagan supporters, who are also ardent fans of both KKR and LSG, from entering the stadium due to their choice of attire.
"It was a special match for the supporters of Mohun Bagan because LSG was wearing a new Green and Maroon Jersey. But, the KKR management curtailed the freedom of the Mohun Bagan supporters (who are also fans of KKR and LSG) by not allowing them to enter the stadium as they were wearing the jersey of Mohun Bagan," Dutta said in a media release.
Dutta condemned KKR's actions, describing it as a curtailment of the fans' freedom and an affront to the esteemed National Club of India. He expressed his strong disapproval, stating, "Mohun Bagan Athletic Club strongly condemns this decision of KKR management for disrespecting the National Club of India and hurting the sentiment of our supporters."
Dutta firmly asserted that supporting and wearing the jersey of the team one loves is an individual's right, and no one should interfere with such personal choices.
"It is an individual's right to support and wear the jersey of the team which he/she loves and supports. No one has the right to interfere in one's own choice," he added.
The incident has sparked controversy and raised questions about the relationship between Mohun Bagan and KKR, two prominent sporting entities in Kolkata. As of now, the KKR management has not responded to the accusations made by Mohun Bagan. The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance and mutual respect required in the realm of sports, where fans' emotions and sentiments are deeply intertwined with the teams they support.
(With inputs from PTI)
