Explained: Anwar Ali's transfer saga involving arch-rivals East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan SG, and his parent club Delhi FC
Results may fluctuate, footballing quality may wane, and administrative gaps may surface, but there is never a dull moment in the Indian football transfer market. Recently, Mohun Bagan SG managed to lure Apuia Ralte from Mumbai City, snatching him away from the clutches of their arch-rivals East Bengal. At the time, it felt like a move that would go on to headline the summer window.
But like a bolt from the blue, the Torchbearers have stitched together a resounding response to the humbling dished out to them in the Apuia episode. According to Sportstar, the Red and Gold Brigade acquired the signature of India's premier center-back Anwar Ali, who was on loan at Mohun Bagan SG from his parent club Delhi FC, on a five-year contract on Thursday. July 11.
Since then, reports from Khel Now and Marcus Mergulhao of TOI have backed the claim. While on the surface level, it seems like a dramatic swap to the other side of the Kolkata maidan, Anwar's transfer sage is fraught with complications.
Anwar Ali and Delhi FC intend to terminate the four-year loan with Mohun Bagan SG and secure a permanent move
Let's start from the beginning. Last summer, the 23-year-old center-back signed a four-year loan deal with Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
However, based on a new regulatory framework approved by FIFA in March 2022, which states a player cannot be loaned for more than a year, the player mailed the Mariners informing him about his return to his parent club.
The player now intends to secure a permanent transfer, Mergulhao reported.
But FIFA's latest regulations currently are only applicable for international transfers. When it comes to domestic loan moves, Mergulhao explained in a tweet:
"For domestic, AIFF has its own rules governing status and transfer of players. There is no max duration of loan agreement as of now in AIFF RSTP. If AIFF amends rules (time till June 2025), previous contracts are valid."
If the AIFF amends their loan regulations, following FIFA's guidelines, before or in June 2025, Anwar Ali's move to the Mariners would remain valid, as it was signed before the amendment.
However, Sporstar has presented a different viewpoint, arguing the new amendment would mandate the prodigal defender to finish his loan spell with Bagan with immediate effect.
When can Anwar Ali join East Bengal? Or can he at all join the Torchbearers?
Yes, for now, Anwar Ali has an agreement with East Bengal FC, and once an official confirmation comes, he'll become a part of the Red and Gold Brigade. However, there's plenty of uncertainty regarding the next steps for all parties involved.
Anwar will only become an East Bengal player if the termination of the loan agreement between the player, his parent club Delhi FC, and Mohun Bagan SG is accepted by the AIFF.
If Mohun Bagan block the transfer, which is likely considering the player unilaterally broke a contract with three years remaining, Anwar and Delhi FC will approach the federation. The matter will then be taken up by the Players' Status Committee (PSC).
If either party is dissatisfied with the ruling, they can escalate the matter to FIFA's Football Tribunal and, ultimately, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). But as long as the legal battle continues, it would spell trouble for Anwar Ali, Delhi FC, and East Bengal FC, who pinned their hopes and invested a hefty fee to secure the defender's services.