The ISL tangle was somewhat cleared up on January 6. Despite not finding a commercial partner or sponsor, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the league's start date. This season's Indian Super League will begin on February 14. But controversy is not leaving ISL behind. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has come under discussion. After the ISL decision, at a press conference, he could not properly pronounce the names Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Former Mohun Bagan footballer Prasun Bandyopadhyay took a dig at Mansukh Mandaviya over this.
On Tuesday in Delhi, a meeting was held between representatives of ISL's 14 clubs, AIFF officials, and the Union Sports Minister. After this, the Sports Minister and AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey held a press conference. While speaking there, he pronounced Mohun Bagan as 'Mohan Bagan'. Then, while pronouncing East Bengal's name, he said 'East Bagan'. Howrah's Trinamool MP Prasun spoke out about this.
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On Wednesday, facing journalists at the Mohun Bagan club, Prasun fired shots against Mansukh Mandaviya over this. He said, 'Did he make a mistake in pronouncing the names of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal or does he not know at all! As a former footballer, I myself feel ashamed about this incident.'
He also alleged that the responsibility of Indian football has been handed over to incompetent people. Not only that, the MP claimed that AIFF has pushed Indian football further backwards in the last few years.
However, political sparring has begun over Mansukh Mandaviya's mispronunciation. On Wednesday, the All India Trinamool Congress posted on X condemning this incident. While Trinamool condemned it, the BJP apparently sees nothing wrong in this case. But it goes without saying that controversy is ongoing over this for now.
