The Players Status Committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is likely to take a final decision on Anwar Ali's fate by the next week.

The 23-year-old had reportedly signed with East Bengal after terminating his loan deal unilaterally with rival side Mohun Bagan Super Giants.

However, the Mariners – with whom he was contracted on a four-year loan deal – maintain that the move was illegal and included him in the Calcutta Football League squad.

According to article 15 of AIFF’s Regulation for Status and Transfer of Players a contract between a professional player and a club may only be terminated upon expiry of the term of the contract or by mutual agreement.

Significantly Fifa’s loan deal regulation says any footballer cannot be loaned for more than one year. But at the same time, this rule has not yet been implemented in Indian football’s transfer. So AIFF Player’s Status Committee also might not go by Fifa’s loan-deal rule in the case of Anwar finally. 

Anwar Ali, despite being registered by MBSG for the Durand Cup, starting today on 27th July, was not fielded in the team’s opening match in the competition against Downtown Heroes at the Salt Lake Stadium. 

Mohun Bagan will have a chance to take a legal route to try and get the defender back who had been crucial in its Indian Super League Shield-winning campaign, scoring three goals and one assist in 26 games last season.