The Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in the Durand Cup has been cancelled due to unrest in the city amidst RG Kar protests. The highly anticipated match was slated to be played on Sunday, August 18, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, but after its cancellation, the organisers will be refunding all online and offline tickets to the fans in due course.
Notably, the decision to cancel the Durand Cup match between Emami East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant was taken after the organisers had a meeting with the police officials in Kolkata. One of the members of the organising team for the Durand Cup told PTI, “Both the teams will be awarded a point each, while the fans will get full refund for the tickets they bought.”
The official X account of the Durand Cup gave an update about the matter on Saturday, August 17, which read, “The match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Emami East Bengal FC has been cancelled. All online and offline tickets will be refunded. The dates and the refund process will be notified, within the next 2 days.”
According to the report in the Indian Express, all the Durand Cup matches, scheduled to happen in Kolkata, could get shifted to Jamshedpur.
Moreover, the reason for the cancellation of the Kolkata derby is the widespread protests in the city after the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Today, the Indian Medical Association has called for a 24-hour nationwide strike except for emergency services to protest against what went down in Kolkata last week.