By IANS,
New Delhi : The players’ status committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Thursday asked East Bengal and Mahindra United to sort out the issues of transfer of Steven Dias and N.P. Pradeep amicably by Sept 5.
Pradeep and Steven, who had a three-year contract till 2010 with Mahindra United, signed for East Bengal for a huge sum this season.
But Mahindra officials said the players violated the contract.
AIFF’s players’ status committee headed by K.P. Sunny met both the club officials and the players here Thursday and gave both clubs time till Sept.5 to sort out the issue.
East Bengal officials were hopeful that both Steven and Pradeep will turn out for the Kolkata outfit in the I-League.
“We are ready to sort out the issue and I can assure you there won’t be any problem,” East Bengal official Debobrata Sarkar told IANS.
But Mahindra officials were unhappy with the decision of the status committee.
“I think the matter is still not solved and I can assure you that Steven and Pradeep will stay with us. The rules are very clear, they have a three years contract with us and they have to oblige it,” said Mahindra coach Derek Pereira.
However, there was a clause in the contract that the players can go after two years if they get a new offer.
“Yes, there was a clause in the contract. But East Bengal should have contacted us directly and not engage themselves in a secret signing with the two players. This is unethical and in no way we will leave the players,” Pereira added.
A dejected Pradeep hoped that he would able to play for East Bengal.
“If I can’t then it will be miserable for me to stay back here,” he said.