Panaji: The transfer saga involving India defender Anwar Ali’s move from Mohun Bagan SG to bitter rivals East Bengal will drag on for at least three years after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) suspended the hearing for five months and ordered the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to conclude the proceedings.Anwar joined East Bengal on a five-year-deal, after ending his contract with Mohun Bagan, in August 2024. Since then, Bagan has challenged the move, even taking it to the Switzerland-based CAS, an independent arbitration body that resolves sports disputes from across the world.“The panel concludes that the proceedings before CAS will be suspended for a period of five months following the issuance of this order to allow the AIFF player’ status committee (PSC) and/or AIFF appeals committee (AC) decision(s) to be made expeditiously, with related grounds provided to the parties,” a three-member CAS panel said in its order on Tuesday.If Mohun Bagan are “dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal process in India or that no final adjudication of the dispute has been issued within the deadline,” the former Indian Super League (ISL) champions can take the dispute back to CAS.Bagan have argued that Anwar terminated his contract – a tripartite loan agreement between the Kolkata giants, Delhi FC and Anwar for a four-year period commencing on June 1, 2023, and concluding on May 31, 2027 — without a just cause, during the protected period, in breach of Articles 15 and 20 of the AIFF regulations on the status and transfer of players.A senior club official said CAS has recognised, on a prima facie basis, its jurisdiction to hear the appeal and acknowledged the concerns arising from prolonged domestic proceedings.“The panel has expressly protected the club’s right to return to the same panel if the AIFF fails to deliver a final decision within the stipulated period. In such circumstances, CAS will resume the proceedings and adjudicate the entire dispute de novo, including the merits and Bagan’s claims for compensation,” said the official.The AIFF’s players status committee had banned Anwar for four months along with imposing two transfer window bans on East Bengal and parent club Delhi FC on Sept 10, 2024.Anwar, East Bengal and Delhi FC were also ordered to pay Bagan Rs 12.9 crore, which was challenged in Delhi High Court that put the judgement on hold, along with a directive for the appeal committee to hear the matter afresh.
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