Uncertainty looms over Mohun Bagan AFC Cup match against Bashundhara Kings

A cloud of uncertainty loomed large over Mohun Bagan Super Giants AFC Cup match against Bashundhara Kings in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday after the Bangladesh club claimed that they got visas of their players only Sunday evening.

A cloud of uncertainty loomed large over Mohun Bagan Super Giants' AFC Cup match against Bashundhara Kings in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday after the Bangladesh club claimed that they got visas for their players only on Sunday evening.The Bangladesh side was supposed to reach Bhubaneswar on Monday morning as per the tournament guidelines, but they could not board the flight from Dhaka after failing to get visas on time.

Visa Issues

Bashundhara Kings club president Mohammad Imrul Hassan told PTI from Dhaka, "We have got visas late at 8 pm today. It's a festive season and getting tickets for 40 people is becoming difficult. Our team is trying its best to arrange the tickets. We are hopeful of making it and reaching Bhubaneswar on the eve of the match."

The Bangladesh club wanted a double-entry visa because it has to play two matches in India, but the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had given an invitation for a single entry, for which the national federation, according to sources, cannot be faulted. Bashundhara's second match is against Odisha FC on December 11, a good 50 days after the match against Mohun Bagan.

The AIFF later gave an invitation for a double-entry visa on September 20.In a letter sent to the Asian Football Confederations Competitions Department before his club got the visas, Hassan wrote, "We have already booked our tickets and the flight is on 22nd October 2023 at 10.15 am which was informed to all parties in due time. Our accommodation is also booked. All these bookings were made with advance payment and now it is not possible to change them so as to have a new set of tickets of such high volume is unlikely at the late stage."

Mohun Bagan's Preparations

Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan, who are leading Group D with all wins from two matches, will keep their date and reach Bhubaneswar on Monday morning. A team official told PTI, "We will turn up at the ground, if they forfeit the match we will get a walkover and three goals as per the rules."

Mohun Bagan's match is slated for a 9.30 pm kick-off on Tuesday, the second match of the day after Odisha's fixture against Maziya of Maldives at 5.30 pm.Mohun Bagan's away match against Bashundhara Kings is scheduled for November 7.Bashundhara also has a home match against Maziya on November 27.Third-placed Bashundhara has three points from two matches to lie behind Maziya on goal difference.

The AFC Cup match between Mohun Bagan and Bashundhara Kings is in jeopardy due to visa issues faced by the Bangladesh club. While Bashundhara Kings are trying their best to arrange tickets and reach Bhubaneswar, Mohun Bagan is preparing to turn up at the ground and claim a walkover if their opponents fail to show up. The outcome of this situation will have implications for both teams' chances of progressing in the tournament.