Explained: Is Anwar Ali free to represent East Bengal after hearing at Delhi High Court?

The heavyweight showdown between Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) and Mumbai City FC (MCFC) in the opening fixture at Kolkata’s iconic Salt Lake Stadium should have been the biggest talking point ahead of the 11th season of the Indian Super League (ISL).

Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City, after all had faced off in two of the biggest matches last season to decide the winner of the League Winners’ Shield as well as the Cup. While Mohun Bagan defeated Mumbai City to win the Shield, the latter returned the favour in the final to win the Cup.

Instead, Indian defender Anwar Ali’s availability for East Bengal in their opening game of the season, which takes place 24 hours after the Mariners vs Islanders clash kicks off, is what has been dominating headlines.

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Ali, after all, had been handed a four-month suspension by the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Players’ Status Committee (PSC) on Tuesday following his controversial move to East Bengal from Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the club he had been loaned to from Delhi FC.

This was after the centre-back terminated his four-year loan deal with the Mariners “without a just clause” after just one season – in which he played a key role in helping them win the League Winners’ Shield and finish runners-up in the final.

The AIFF PSC not only slapped Ali with a four-month suspension, it also ordered the player as well as East Bengal and Delhi FC to pay Mohun Bagan SG a compensation of Rs 12.90 crore. The PSC also handed a transfer ban to both East Bengal and Delhi FC for the next two windows.

Things, however, took a dramatic turn after both East Bengal and Delhi FC decided to file an appeal before the Delhi High Court against Ali’s suspension on Thursday.

Is Anwar Ali free to play for East Bengal?

Anwar Ali’s chances of being available for East Bengal for the entire 2024-25 ISL season received a massive boost after the AIFF withdrew the suspension imposed on the defender following the hearing at the Delhi High Court on Friday, 13 September.

According to news agency PTI, Justice Sanjeev Narula had questioned the AIFF’s legal representative for lack of reasons provided by the PSC to the aggrieved parties before passing the order on Tuesday.

The AIFF’s lawyer replied by saying it would withdraw the suspension and conduct a fresh hearing on Saturday, 14 September and “pass a detailed order” thereafter.

Until the AIFF PSC passes the fresh order, “status quo ante will prevail” — meaning Ali is free to represent the ‘Red and Gold Brigade’.

“In the opinion of the Court, the practice adopted by the AIFF PSC of issuing a decision without providing detailed reasons is fundamentally violative of the principles of natural justice. The right to a fair hearing encompasses not only the opportunity to be heard but also the right to know the reasons for any adverse decision,” read the order dated 13 September, according to Bar and Bench.

“The absence of grounds restricts the Petitioners from preparing a comprehensive appeal and prevents them from challenging the decision appropriately, thereby violating principles of natural justice and due process. The AIFF’s inaction, in this regard, has caused prejudice to the Petitioners, as it denies them an effective remedy to contest the sanctions imposed upon them,” the order added.

However, Ali could be in trouble again if the new order by the PSC once again goes against him, meaning another ban and a fresh set of fines for the two clubs against whom Mohun Bagan had filed an appeal.

Ali wasn’t included by East Bengal coach Carles Cuadrat for their season opener against Bengaluru FC on Saturday, either in the starting XI or later as a substitute. The ended up losing the fixture at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium 0-1 as a result of Lalchungnunga’s 87th minute strike.

It remains to be seen if he makes his East Bengal ISL debut against Kerala Blasters on Sunday, 22 September.