East Bengal not participating in Super Cup

Kolkata, March 28 

East Bengal’s board members today decided not to participate in the Super Cup main round, which begins tomorrow in Bhubaneswar, holding firm to the alliance of eight revolting I-League clubs. Terming it unethical to pull out of the alliance, East Bengal said in a statement: “The East Bengal nominees on the board suggested that since an alliance of clubs has already been formed, it would be unethical for us to come out of the alliance.”

In their first board meeting since Quess Corp became the club’s investor in July, East Bengal also decided to bid for inclusion in the Indian Super League. “The board also agreed to bid for ISL if the terms are financially acceptable,” it added.

East Bengal, who had finished runners-up in the I-League, were to play against ISL side Delhi Dynamos in their Round of 16 match Saturday. Eight I-League clubs, including Mohun Bagan and new champions Chennai City FC, had formed an allilance and decided to withdraw from the competition citing AIFF’s “unfair treatment”. Minerva Punjab, Aizawl FC and Gokulam Kerala had not turned up for their qualifying round matches in Bhubaneswar on March 15-16. — PTI

Chennaiyin to face Mumbai in opener

Bhubaneswar: The main round of the Super Cup begins here tomorrow with Chennaiyin FC taking on Mumbai City FC in a Round of 16 match. Former ISL champions Chennaiyin finished at the bottom of the ISL table in the recently-concluded season, while Mumbai made it to the semifinals. PTI