I-League 2019-20: East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan suspended over coronavirus pandemic

The I-League Derby between East Bengal and champions Mohun Bagan, scheduled to be held behind closed door on Sunday, stands suspended in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

This came after chief minister Mamata Banerjee, during a meeting on Friday, asked the state associations to stop all sporting activities till March 31.

Representatives of the Cricket Association of Bengal, major clubs like East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting and sports associations like the AIFF and Indian Football Association took part in the meeting.

The match between East Bengal and Chennai City FC is also deferred. That was scheduled on March 22.

Mohammedan Sporting have two home matches in the 2nd Division I-League on March 17 and March 25. Those matches also will have to be deferred after Friday’s development.

The Kerala government also issued a directive to stop all sporting activities in the state till March 31. But till late on Friday evening, Gokulam Kerala FC said they were going ahead with the match against Indian Arrows in Kozhikode on Sunday. “We haven’t got any directive. So as of now the match would be played behind closed doors,” a source said.

Till late on Friday, the AIFF didn’t officially speak on the matches in Calcutta and Kozhikode.

Earlier in the day, the AIFF cancelled a scheduled meeting with the I-League clubs and through a media statement stated that all matches would be held as per schedule without any spectators.

Also read: Do You Know? Mamata Banerjee was India’s first Sports Minister