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ISL 2021: East Bengal to play ISL this year, investor Shree Cement to stay; Mamata Banerjee weaves magic

ISL 2021: East Bengal to play ISL this year, investor Shree Cement to stay; Mamata Banerjee weaves magic

ISL 2021 – East Bengal to play ISL 2021: West Bengal Cheif Minister Mamata Banerjee weaved her magic as Kolkata football giants East Bengal will play ISL 2021. The representatives of both East Bengal & the investor Shree Cement were called for a meeting by the CM Office and the Chief Minister was instrumental in […]

ISL 2021 – East Bengal to play ISL 2021: West Bengal Cheif Minister Mamata Banerjee weaved her magic as Kolkata football giants East Bengal will play ISL 2021. The representatives of both East Bengal & the investor Shree Cement were called for a meeting by the CM Office and the Chief Minister was instrumental in ending the deadlock –

West Bengal Cheif Minister Mamata Banerjee has weaved her magic as Kolkata football giant, East Bengal will play ISL 2021.

East Bengal officials announced on Wednesday that investor Shree Cement will stay put and that they will sign the final agreement.

Mamata Banerjee played a massive role in ending the deadlock as she met the two parties at the secretariat and after a long meeting, the announcement was made.

The signing of the agreement means that Shree Cement can now start the process of team building and create a pathway to enable East Bengal to play in the ISL season eight.

“We want to play. There were some differences so we could not sign the agreement. But since you (Mamata Banerjee) have requested, we have decided that we will participate in ISL,” Goal.com quoted Shree Cement’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Subash Jajoo.

East Bengal senior official Debabrata Sarkar said, “Mamata Banerjee has helped us (East Bengal) to play in ISL this season. I also thank Sree Cement for their co-operation.”

Mamata Banerjee said, “East Bengal has played the ISL last year owing to Shree Cement. This time things were a bit uncertain until now because of which day before yesterday, I too became a bit hostile.

“Where will East Bengal fans go, I thought, if they aren’t able to play? I want Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and even Mohammedan Sporting to play (in the ISL) in the upcoming days. They have a brand value in global football.”

She added: “I think EB fans are happy today. Even MB will be happy cause they want their opponents to play. There were many who called me to express their disappointment regarding the earlier situation.”

As it Happened

@ 4:20 PM – Just In: East Bengal to play in ISL 2021, Shree Cement remains as investors

@2:45 PM: “They even met me on August 16 and told me that everything will be sorted. So suddenly what happened, that things changed? What is the mystery behind it? East Bengal have a great legacy. We all want Mohun Bagan and East Bengal to play in ISL. I am very happy that Mohun Bagan are playing and we all want East Bengal to play in the ISL too. We will also let them know that we are displeased with the situation and we will try to sort this. Time is very short, let’s see,” CM Mamata Banerjee had said.

@2:15 PM: “I am no one to take any decision on East Bengal. The authorities who were there earlier has sent me a letter to inform me that they will not be able to continue with East Bengal at this very last moment. This is a bad attitude. They kept the club waiting for so many months and now at the last moment they are saying they cannot do anything. We are all unhappy with this situation,” CM Mamata Banerjee had said.

@1:30 PM: Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee minced no words and slammed Shree Cement investors for pulling out.

@12:50 PM: The Chief Minister herself will be taking the initiative to help both parties reach common ground

@12:15 PM: All eyes are on the state secretariat, Nabanna, as CM Mamata Banerjee will chair a meeting with representatives of East Bengal and Shree Cement Limited

@11:00 AM: Reports also suggest that chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself will be mediating the deal and ensure East Bengal gets to play in the IPL.

@10:30 AM: It is being discussed in the Bengal football circles that with CM convening a meeting both parties are likely to break the deadlock and will reach some mutual understanding. This will ensure East Bengal’s entry into ISL.

East Bengal vs Investor: Why CM had to intervene and call for the meeting? In an email to the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the cement manufacturer has written that they will be returning the sporting rights to the club. ‘Disappointed’ by the developments, she has now called for the meeting on Wednesday between the two parties. This meeting will finally decide East Bengal’s ISL fate – Follow LIVE Updates on InsideSport.co

ISL 2021: ‘Disappointed’ CM Mamata Banerjee convenes meeting after Shree Cement pulls out of East Bengal deal, follow live updates

ISL 2021 – Will East Bengal Play ISL? According to information available, CM is extremely irritated about the whole situation & will attempt to sort the differences between the two for the last one time.

“They let me know at the very last moment they won’t be able to continue the partnership. We are all disappointed and a bit irritated,” Mamata said during a press conference.

“I am no one to take any decision on East Bengal. The authorities who were there earlier have sent me a letter to inform me that they will not be able to continue with the club at this very last moment. This is bad attitude. They kept the club waiting for so many months and now at the last moment they are saying they cannot do anything. We are all unhappy with this situation,” Mamata said during a news conference on Monday.

“East Bengal have a great legacy. We all want Mohun Bagan and East Bengal to play in the ISL (Indian Super League). We will also let them know that we are unhappy with the situation and we will try to sort this out. Time is very short, let us see. I urge everyone in the club management to come forward and deal with the crisis,” Mamata said.

Also Read: ISL 2021-22: East Bengal’s impasse with Shree Cements continues, cloud over ISL participation remains

ISL 2021: The Chief Minister minced no words and termed the development as ‘disappointed and said she was “irritated” at the last-minute pullout.

“We all want clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting to play in the ISL. I am very happy that Mohun Bagan (ATKMB) is still playing in the ISL. We should all support EB during a difficult time like this,” she said.

East Bengal top executive official Nitu Sarkar however said they are yet to receive the letter of disassociation from SCL.

“We are yet to receive the letter, so can not comment at this point of time. But we are hopeful to play ISL,” Sarkar told PTI.

ISL 2021: The club management had signed an initial term sheet in September last year as the porting rights as well all its assets and properties (including intellectual) were reportedly transferred to the newly formed joint venture “SC East Bengal”.

It had paved their dramatic entry into ISL last season where the Robbie Fowler-coached side had a pathetic ninth-place finish with nine losses, eight draws and just three wins.

But trouble brewed in the build-up to the upcoming season as the HM Bangur-owned SCL refused to “spend a penny” on team-building unless the final agreement was signed.

ISL 2021: East Bengal club executive committee had decided not to sign the final agreement claiming discrepancies in the initial term. Shree Cement had already sent a revised version of the final agreement to the club as well as to the West Bengal Chief Minister on August 16. But the club management upon legal consultation remained adamant and SCL decided to end the deal.

ISL 2021: The primary contention between the two parties is regarding the final term sheet. East Bengal club officials were to sign the final term sheet and hand over 76% of the club’s shares to Shree Cements. However, officials claim that there are several discrepancies in the final term sheet and refused to sign it.

ISL 2021-22: Why do East Bengal officials refuse to sign the contract?

  • Shree Cement want the land ownership to be transferred but since the land belongs to the Army, East Bengal cannot do that.
  • Signing the final term sheet will disallow any club members to enter the premises. Hence, they are reluctant.
  • Handing over complete rights could see Shree Cement change the club’s colour and name, something no supporter or officials will agree on.
  • It will also see the transfer of rights of East Bengal’s cricket club and other properties including the library, cafeteria amongst others.

However, it may not be the end of road for East Bengal in ISL if they get an investor as soon as they can. The FSDL, ISL’s organisers, have been waiting for East Bengal to finalise the deal with Shree Cement. But now that the deal has fallen through, the club must find an investor to have a chance to continue playing in the ISL.

ISL 2021: East Bengal’s fate in ISL to be decided today as CM Mamata Banerjee calls for a meeting, follow live updates

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