Tension Rises as Bunkerhill Halts Mohammedan Sporting's ISL Entry Over 'Wrong Expectations'

Mohammedan Sporting's entry into the Indian Super League (ISL) faces a snag as principal investor Bunkerhill disengages due to 'wrong expectations'. Despite the hurdles, the club aims for an 'amicable discussion' to resolve the issues. The split in shares and board member disagreements are central to the contention.

Barely two days after Mohammedan Sporting's ISL entry became official, the Kolkata club hit a major roadblock. Principal investors, Bunkerhill, announced their withdrawal from the deal citing 'wrong expectations', though the club remains hopeful of resolving the matter through 'amicable discussions'.

Mohammedan Sporting earned their ISL promotion by clinching the I-League 2023-24 title, with their official ISL debut set for September 16 against NorthEast United FC. Bunkerhill Pvt Ltd, which owns a 61% stake through a 2020 deal, claimed issues arose after a new investor structure was proposed.

Founder and Chairman of Bunkerhill, Dipak Kumar Singh, took to social media to explain that the agreement fell apart over disagreements on board member allocations and operational control. Despite these challenges, the club's general secretary, Ishtiaque Ahmed, assured that they will 'sort this out amicably,' emphasizing ongoing share transfer processes and their commitment to ISL participation.

(With inputs from agencies.)