Kolkata remains the undisputed epicentre of Indian football, anchored by the historic Calcutta Football League (CFL) – Asia’s oldest league, founded in 1898.

The iconic Maidan serves as its beating heart, where over 160 clubs and thousands of players across seven divisions compete in a fiercely passionate ecosystem. The “Big Three” – Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting – dominate the Premier Division, blending legacy with intense local rivalries that draw massive crowds and shape Bengal’s football culture.

However, this vibrant get-up faces a persistent shadow: match-fixing. Recent scandals, including the November 2025 arrests of Khidirpur Sporting officials Akash Das and Rahul Saha, exposed betting syndicates manipulating Premier Division results. Earlier cases involving clubs like Tollygunge Agragami and Wari AC highlight systemic vulnerabilities – low payments to lower-division players, weak oversight, and external betting networks.

While the CFL nurtures talent and preserves tradition, urgent reforms in governance, player welfare, and integrity measures are essential to protect Kolkata football’s soul from the cancer of fixing.

BJP’s reounding Victory in WB Election

BJP’s historic 2026 West Bengal victory – winning 207 of 294 seats and ending TMC’s 15-year rule – has sparked hope for reform in Kolkata’s passionate football ecosystem. The Calcutta Football League (CFL), Asia’s oldest, remains the Maidan’s beating heart, with the Big Three and 160+ clubs embodying Bengal’s football soul.

Under TMC, the party systematically usurped clubs: since 2015, Mamata Banerjee’s government funded over 20,000 clubs with crores, turning them into grassroots political arms for voter mobilisation, booth management and muscle power.

Mehtab Hossain hopes for a Change

MyKhel caught up with Mehtab Hossain, who expressed his anguish over the decaying culture of Kolkata football, which worsened under the reign of Trinamul Congress. The way TMC leaders manipulated, got involved in clubs’ affairs, was a surprise to many, and Mehtab hopes that things will change.

“I hope politics ends in Kolkata Football. They must abide by the laws. If they bring in the same people, sports won’t develop. I never saw fixing in my playing days,” said Mehtab Hossain, former India footballer, in an exclusive chat with MyKhel.

“Earlier, during the CPIM reign, the leaders loved football, but no one was involved in the direct affairs of football,” he added.

Mehtab also hopes that a holistic change in the culture of Bengal football can radically improve the sports. The likes of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal will have a huge role in it, but Mehtab also urges the new government to implement the correct measures to keep politics away from the pitch.

Mohun Bagan or East Bengal – Who are Favourites for ISL?

East Bengal have so far been terrific in the Indian Super League, as they sit on the top of the table. Mohun Bagan, the arch-rivals, are not far behind as well. Amid the race for ISL title, the Kolkata Derby on May 17 will be a paramount affair as it may determine the ISL future, and Mehtab believes the gap is too little to predict anything.

“It is very difficult to predict the winner. You never know who will drop points where. This is the last lap and the team who will have the luck may become champions.”