Indian Football round-up: 5 farces- the 'historic' moments of 2018

#2 Every match cannot be a 'Derby'

Moments before kick-off from a 'Kolkata Derby'

The Indian Super League began five years ago; it was an instant success but it lacks the fan following that traditional football clubs in the country have. For instance, the 10 teams playing in the ISL have been formed more or less a few months before the first season got underway. Although most of the clubs have gained considerable popularity and support, it cannot be compared to clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal or Churchill Brothers FC.

Many of the fixtures in the four-year-old ISL are considered ‘Derby’ for no reason now. For example, ‘The Maha Derby’ involves Mumbai City FC and FC Pune City, Southern Derby is played among Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters FC and Bengaluru FC. There's also a ‘Steel Derby’ involving Bengaluru FC vs Jamshedpur FC as the owners of both these clubs are involved in the steel industry.

None of these matches are derbies. A Derby is a match involving emotions, where the fans live the game just the 22 players inside the rectangle!

Just imagine the atmosphere inside the Salt Lake Stadium during a match between Mohun and East Bengal, a rivalry which dates back to 1925, or imagine the atmosphere when Manchester City play against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium. Those are the real derbies. Not these.