As the intensity of whole Kolkata rises leading up to the Derby in the Durand Cup finals, many supporters and fans are moving in circles around the Maidan tents hoping to get hold of some tickets for the final at the Salt Lake stadium.
Many supporters lined up for several hours to get confirmed tickets at the maidan tent on Friday. On Saturday, the ticket saga took a turn for the worse when Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fans blocked the roads of Maidan to protest the unavailability of tickets.
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The fans alleged that though the Durand Committee officially posted all tickets have been sold out, tickets were available in the black market.
With the two footballing giants of Kolkata meeting in a final after 19 years, the ticketing demands were sure to rise. It is unfathomable how the Durand Committee could not anticipate the situation or did not take any steps to prevent it.
Sagnik Chatterjee, a Mohun Bagan supporter who was at the Maidan on Saturday said, “It’s a mayhem here. People have been waiting since yesterday night, hoping to acquire some tickets.
“The clubs are shying away from responsibility, putting the onus on Durand Committee. All tickets have been sold out is the committee’s response. There are thousands of people protesting here, so where did those tickets go and who bought them?” Sagnik asked.
The Torchbearers enter the championship game after a thrilling victory on penalties over a talented NorthEast United FC team. Head coach Carles Cuadrat will be anxious to win his first trophy with his new team within months.
The defending Indian Super League (ISL) champions, however, haven’t had the best preseason thus far. They have already lost to their bitter rivals in the Durand Cup group round. However, the final offers them a chance for atonement. It is a chance for the Mariners to further cement their current supremacy against East Bengal.
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