Should the next Kolkata Derby have been played outside Kolkata?

Those of you who follow Indian football regularly will have read or even seen footage of what happened at the last Kolkata derby in the I-League on December 9, 2012 between East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan AC at the Saltlake Stadium.Now, in a week’s time on Saturday, February 9, the next derby in the I-League will be held once more at 2 pm in the afternoon with one question not asked at all – shouldn’t this match have been moved outside of Kolkata?

With floodlights still not ready, an afternoon kick-off was unavoidable but the pelting of the play of field with anything available should have had some sort of reaction and not just costlier tickets and higher security, which this time’s host Mohun Bagan is ensuring. But in my opinion, the game should have been taken out of Kolkata to make it clear for once and for all that such behaviour will not be accepted nor tolerated.

And as it is the biggest match of the year within the Indian football calendar even holding it, for example the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, would have drawn large crowds and maybe Delhi could have shown Kolkata how to watch and enjoy a football match.

It is about abuse and obscene gestures, hurting not only sentiments but if possible also causing physical harm. Things have simply gone too far and the authorities need to act to keep such behaviour in check.

Just some food for thought from my side.