Kolkata clubs to release footballers for Dubai camp

KOLKATA - City soccer giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have agreed to release players for the national preparatory camp in Dubai beginning June 25 and the subsequent exposure trip to Spain after assurances from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that the players’ medical expenses and matters related to fees will be taken care of.

The two clubs had earlier demanded that the AIFF pay the entire medical expenses of players who sustain injuries during camps or matches on national duty.

They had also asked the country’s apex soccer governing body to compensate the respective clubs the portion of fees playable to the injured players for the period till they were fully fit and joined practice for the clubs.

After West Bengal’s soccer ruling body Indian Football Association (IFA) secretary Utpal Ganguly wrote to his AIFF counterpart Alberto Colaco, the latter Tuesday agreed to take appropriate measures in this regard.

“Regarding the medical expenses, we have met all expenses related to injuries which have occurred during Indian team camps and matches and will continue to do so,” Colaco said in an e-mail to Ganguly.

“Regarding fees, we are arranging appropriate insurance and we will do whatever is needed to see that the players and the clubs are not put to any inconvenience,” he said.

Colaco said all the points raised by the clubs through the IFA secretary will be discussed in an executive committee meeting by July 10.

Ganguly then wrote to Colaco that though the clubs have agreed to release the players for the tour in consideration of his request, the decision “should not be treated as their withdrawing all the points made earlier in relation to the release players both by the clubs and by us”.

The Dubai camp will continue till July 7, after which the Indian team will play five practice matches in Spain.