Derby Match and Brigade Rally to Coincide

Sayak Banerjee / 05-03-2024

The highly anticipated Kolkata Derby faced scheduling complications due to the ruling party’s rally at Brigade Parade Ground on the same day. Initially, there were talks of rescheduling the match or even moving it to another state. However, after discussions between East Bengal, the derby’s host, and the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, a decision has been reached. The match will now start at 8:15 PM on March 10 at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan, a 45-minute delay from the original 7:30 PM kickoff.

The initial schedule had sparked concerns due to the rally, with the police suggesting a 9 PM start. However, the broadcasting channel opposed this, proposing a maximum delay to 8 PM. After extensive negotiations, a compromise was struck, setting the match time at 8:15 PM.

East Bengal, hosting the return leg of the derby, had already begun printing tickets on Tuesday afternoon, even though the final match time was not yet confirmed. As a result, some tickets may not display the correct match time. The club plans to stamp the updated time on these tickets. East Bengal supporters will enter through gates 1, 2, and 3, while Mohun Bagan fans will use gates 3A, 4, and 5.