Row breaks out over endorsement of Trinamool candidate by officials of Kolkata-based football clubs

Controversy in West Bengal as football clubs endorse Trinamool Congress candidate, sparking debate among political and sporting circles.

A fresh controversy has erupted in West Bengal with office bearers of prominent football clubs in Kolkata publicly endorsing Sanat Dey, the Trinamool Congress candidate from Naihati Assembly seat in the byelection scheduled on November 13. An office bearer of the Indian Football Association is also seen putting his weight behind the Trinamool Congress candidate in the video shared on social media by the State’s ruling party.

Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari called the move “unprecedented and unethical” and wrote to Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya seeking his intervention.

The Trinamool Congress took to social media sharing a video of officials of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting Club endorsing the candidature of Sanat Dey.

“Our MLA Candidate, Shri Sanat Dey’s love for football is known to everyone in Naihati. Be it Mohun Bagan, East Bengal or Mohammedan Sporting Club, his immense contribution towards maintaining a healthy sporting culture in Naihati is appreciated by them all!” the party posted on social media platform X.

In the 78-second video, Debabrata Sarkar, who is associated with the East Bengal Club, Debasish Dutta of Mohun Bagan Club and Md. Kamaruddin of Mohammedan Sporting Club are seen endorsing Mr. Dey. The video, which has been endorsed by the State’s ruling party, also features Anirban Dutta, secretary of Indian Football Association who is heaping praises on the Trinamool Congress candidate.

All the three clubs — East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting Club — are century-old football clubs of Kolkata with a large fan following across the State and the development has evoked strong reactions from the sporting fraternity. Legendary footballer Shyam Thapa was among many former sportspersons who said that it was not correct to mix sports and politics and the football clubs should not endorse candidates of any political party.

“There is nothing more unfortunate than this. How can clubs endorse a candidate of any political party?” Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.