New Delhi: India defender Anwar Ali has requested the All India Football Federation for a quick resolution to his protracted disputed transfer episode from Mohun Bagan to East Bengal.
The matter has dragged on for 16 months and awaits a judgement from AIFF’s appeal committee, which postponed it “until further notice” on November 13.
Hearings were fixed on Nov 12 and 13 but couldn’t take place due to non-completion of quorum after a resignation in the four-member appeal committee.
Chaired by retired Justice Rajesh Tandon, the committee had retired Justice Ashok Kumar Tripathi, Anil Kshatriya and Diwaker Thites as members.
Justice’s Tripathi’s recent resignation made the committee under strength and AIFF is yet to fill up the vacant position for hearings to resume.
On Nov 13, Justice Tandon had set the next hearing dates on Nov 28 and 29, directing AIFF to “immediately complete the quorum” and ensure the presence of all requisite members on the next date of the hearing “without any exception”.
“Strict compliance is expected. Any further lapse in constituting the quorum will be viewed seriously,” Tandon wrote in his order, directing circulation of the present order to the parties, ensuring “due notice and compliance”.
But AIFF informed that the meeting won’t be conducted “owing to the incomplete quorum requirement as per Article 79” of its disciplinary committee.
Since no movement has happened since then, Ali has decided to seek AIFF’s attention as his fate continues to hang in the balance ever since he unilaterally terminated his loan agreement with Bagan on July 8, 2024, and filed a claim for transfer to EB before the player status committee on July 17, 2024.
This badge means everything to us! ❤️💛#JoyEastBengal #134thEditionofIndianOilDurandCup | Anwar Ali pic.twitter.com/v135YNzatG
— East Bengal FC (@eastbengal_fc) August 10, 2025
“Under instructions and on behalf of my client, Mr. Anwar Ali, a registered professional football player, I am constrained to issue the present legal notice to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) owing to its continued inaction and procedural arbitrariness in the matter pending before the AIFF Appeals Committee,” Ali’s lawyer wrote to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey.
“It is a matter of record that the said appeal has been pending adjudication before the AIFF Appeals Committee for over one year, during which period all concerned parties have made their substantial submissions.
“Despite the matter being ripe for final hearing, no steps whatsoever have been taken to conclude the proceedings. This prolonged and unexplained delay has caused immense prejudice to my client, whose name continues to be publicly associated with the pending case, thereby causing reputational harm and defamation in the football community and media alike.”
AIFF’s players status committee had banned Ali for four months along with imposing two transfer window bans on EB and parent club Delhi FC on September 10, 2024.
Ali, EB and DFC were also told 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, where it has witnessed at least 11 adjuournements.
Ali, in the meantime, has continued to play for EB and the men’s senior national team.
Apprehension
Ali said he suspects creation of a “manufactured stalemate” to portray the appeal committee as “dysfunctional”, in order for its eventual dissolution and reconstitution “at the behest of AIFF management”.
The 25-year-old apprehends that AIFF seeks to “cherry-pick” and substitute the existing members with “individuals subservient to the interests of the Federation and its current leadership”, pointing out that it would be a “gross abuse of process”.
“Yes. A letter has come from him. It will be sent to the legal team,” a person privy to the development confirmed to News9Sports.
The AIFF plans to fill up the appeal committee’s vacuum during its annual general meeting on December 20 and then arrange for a hearing, possibly two days later.
Bagan seek FIFA intervention
Reigning Indian Super League champions Bagan had sought FIFA’s intervention on Nov 14 following indefinite adjournment of the hearings.
Bagan also sought liberty to approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport to bring a fair and timely conclusion to the matter.
The world governing body responded on Nov 23, confirming its intention to communicate with AIFF “with regards to the relevant proceedings, as necessary”.