As he prepares for his first derby match with East Bengal, former Mohun Bagan player Anwar Ali faces the looming threat of a ban and a fine. Transitioning between these rival clubs adds to the challenge, especially with the added pressure of potential sanctions from a FIFA ruling and ongoing court cases.
For Anwar Ali, this will be a significant test. The central defender is expected to be a key player for East Bengal’s interim coach Bino George in Saturday’s Indian Super League (ISL) match against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, marking the season’s first Kolkata derby.
Ali’s talent has been recognized by notable figures such as former India coach Igor Stimac, who praised him as one of the best centre-backs in Asia. His current coach, Manolo Marquez, has also shown confidence in Ali by playing him in two out of three matches for India. Ali’s first start for India in the 2024-25 season against Syria was his first competitive match in 90 days. However, his previous coach Antonio Lopez Habas may have rushed him back from injury in a Kolkata derby last season, leading to another injury.
Questions about Ali’s situation were addressed by Mohun Bagan Super Giant coach Jose Molina and East Bengal’s Bino George at press conferences on Friday. Molina preferred to focus on his own team’s strength rather than any individual player, while George expressed confidence in Ali and Hector Yuste, East Bengal’s likely central defense pairing.
Despite moving from Mohun Bagan, where he was released by the league shield winners, Yuste faces less scrutiny than Ali, who is also dealing with legal battles over his contract. Ali joined East Bengal in the summer on a five-year deal, which required legal intervention to finalize.
East Bengal, currently at the bottom of the standings with four defeats in four matches, needs Ali to focus solely on football. Midfielder Saul Crespo expressed confidence that Ali would be fully focused despite the distractions.
Mohun Bagan fans hope Ali will struggle in the derby, given his complicated departure from their club. Ali’s loan with Mohun Bagan was supposed to last until 2027, but he ended the deal citing a FIFA ruling against long-term loans. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) initially approved the loan but later ruled it was unjustified when Ali sought to terminate it. Consequently, Ali was banned for four months and Mohun Bagan was awarded ₹12.9 crore in compensation.
Ali, Delhi FC, and East Bengal challenged the AIFF’s decision in the Delhi High Court, which allowed Ali to continue playing. However, his future remains uncertain as the AIFF’s review could change the situation at any moment.
At a press conference, Mohun Bagan captain Subhasish Bose emphasized the importance of focusing on the game despite external pressures. Both Bose and Ali recently played together for India, helping secure a 1-1 draw against Vietnam, a higher-ranked team. Ali’s career has been marked by significant challenges, including being banned from playing on health grounds in 2019 and overcoming a heart condition to return to professional football.
With support from Delhi FC owner Ranjit Bajaj and medical clearance, Ali returned to play in the ISL and secured a permanent deal with East Bengal, earning ₹3 crore annually. Despite these achievements, the immediate future remains uncertain for Ali.
