VIDEO: Strict security arrangements for Kolkata derby finalised

Yesterday West Bengal Minister of Sports Madan Mitra met club officials from both Mohun Bagan AC and East Bengal Club ahead of their upcoming I-League derby on Saturday to discuss and finalise security arrangements around the match. Here the ABP Ananda report on the issue.

Should the next Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal Derby have been played outside Kolkata?

Those of you who follow Indian football regularly will have read or even seen footage of what happened at the last Kolkata derby in the I-League on December 9, 2012 between East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC at the Saltlake Stadium.

Now in a weeks time on Saturday, February 9 the next derby in the I-League will be held once more at 2pm in the afternoon with one question not asked at all - shouldn't this match have been moved outside of Kolkata?

With floodlights still not ready an afternoon kick-off was unavoidable but the pelting of the play of field with anything available should have had some sort of reaction and not just costlier tickets and higher security, which this time's host Mohun Bagan is ensuring, but in my opinion the game should have been taken out of Kolkata to make it clear for once and for all that such behaviour will not be accepted nor tolerated.

And as it is the biggest match of the year within the Indian football calendar even holding it e.g. the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi would have drawn large crowds and maybe Delhi could have shown Kolkata how to watch and enjoy a football match then that is getting lost in the Kolkata derby.

It is about abuse and obscene gestures, hurting not only sentiments but if possible also causing physical harm. Things have simply gone to far and the authorities need to act to keep such behaviour in check.

Just some food for thought from my side...

India U-23s to play three matches on UK Tour

The All India Football Federation has finally confirmed that the India Under-23s will be travelling to the United Kingdom to face Pakistan in a two match series titled 'Clash of the Titans' besides taking on an England C side.



India's first match would be on September 3 at Derby County FC's Pride Park ground, followed by a match against an England C side (a team made-up of non-league players, semi-professional players) at Victoria Road, Dagenham in East London and the tour would end with another encounter against Pakistan on September 9 in Glasgow.



The AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das expressed his happiness in the Under-23 team getting the much-needed exposure in England. "The All India Football Federation is happy the boys are getting the right kind of exposure. Clash of the Titans India Pakistan UK Tour has generated huge interest among the fans in India and we are eagerly looking forward to the Tour," he said.



India have started their practice in Gurgaon with Sukhvinder Singh the coach of the squad, while Tanumoy Bose as the assistant-cum-goalkeeping coach with seasoned Renedy Singh set to lead the young squad with Baichung Bhutia unlikely to make a return. The Team will leave for England on August 27.