East Bengal could be facing an issue over the payment of their ISL participation fee ahead of the new season, according to a report in Bengali daily Sangbad Pratidin.

The report, written by journalist Dulal Dey, claims that the Kolkata-based club are yet to deposit the first instalment of their participation fee, reportedly amounting to Rs 55 lakh.

The development has not been independently confirmed by the AIFF or East Bengal, and the claims should therefore be treated as unconfirmed at this stage.

Reportedly, AIFF planned to adjust the fee from prize money

According to Dey’s report, the AIFF had allegedly planned to recover the reported Rs 55 lakh by deducting it from the prize money due to East Bengal after their ISL triumph last season.

East Bengal won their maiden ISL title last season, ending a 22-year wait for a major national championship.

However, the reported proposal has allegedly not gone down well with Emami Group, who were the club’s co-owner and principal investor during the previous season.

The report claims that Emami requested the AIFF to transfer the entire prize money to the company’s account rather than deducting the participation fee from the amount.

Emami reportedly not willing to take on new liabilities

The reported dispute also comes against the backdrop of Emami’s exit from East Bengal’s ownership structure ahead of the new season.

According to the report, the company is no longer backing the club for the upcoming campaign and therefore cannot be expected to take responsibility for fresh financial liabilities.

Dey’s report claims that this has created an additional complication over how the participation fee is to be settled.

There has been no official confirmation from East Bengal, Emami Group or the AIFF regarding the reported disagreement.

Deadline reportedly adds to East Bengal FC concerns

The report also claims that East Bengal faced another deadline over the participation fee, with July 14 reportedly being the final date for payment of the second and final instalment.

If accurate, the development could leave the reigning ISL champions needing to resolve the matter quickly as preparations for the new season continue.

However, it remains unclear whether the reported payment has since been made or whether the AIFF has taken any formal action against the club.

Bruzon had also cited financial uncertainty

The reported fee issue comes shortly after former East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzon spoke about the financial uncertainty surrounding the club during his decision to leave despite guiding them to the ISL title.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Bruzon said that the uncertainty at club level had played a significant role in his decision.

“The contract situation wasn’t resolved within the window that mattered,” Bruzon said.

He also claimed that contracts for key players and coaching staff were not discussed until it was too late to properly plan for the following season.

“Financial uncertainty at the club level was a significant factor in my decision,” he added.

Bruzon also stressed the importance of clarity and transparency within the club, arguing that decisions should be made in the interests of the team and institution.

East Bengal FC preparing for new chapter

East Bengal are now entering a new phase following their title-winning campaign and the departure of Bruzon.

The club’s ownership and financial structure have also changed, with Emami no longer serving as the principal investor.

Against that backdrop, the reported participation-fee issue could add another layer of uncertainty to the club’s preparations.

For now, however, the claims remain based on the report by Dulal Dey in Sangbad Pratidin. Neither East Bengal nor the AIFF has publicly confirmed the reported Rs 55 lakh outstanding payment or the alleged plan to deduct it from the club’s prize money.