What more can possibly go wrong with Kolkata football giants Mohun Bagan? Their cup of woe is brimming over. First they sacked coach Subrata Bhattacharjee at the fag end of the National Football League, and have still not managed a replacement. That decision proved costly as they could only finish seventh among the 12 teams. Then they suspended two of their Nigerian recruits, Isa Musah Eroje and George Ekeh, for six months, on grounds of indiscipline. Now they face a Rs 2.4 million damage suit from Vasco Sports Club, Goa.

According to Vasco bossman Noel D'Lima, Bagan will have to pay his club Rs 2.4 million if they field Brazilian striker Marcos Pereira, who was with them last season.

Vasco officials allege that Bagan signed Pereira against the rules. They say there is a rule in Goa since 1997 which says if a club wants to hire a player from another club, officials of both clubs have to talk first before approaching the player.

Mohun Bagan, by approaching Pereira at the fag end of the NFL -- just before their crucial match against East Bengal -- had broken this rule, and hence the demand for compensation, says D'Lima.

It learnt that AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco has decided to implement this rule all over the country from this season, though newly-elected IFA secretary Subrata Dutta seems unaware of the matter.

D'Lima said Bagan's signing of Pereira just before the East Bengal match shattered the team's will to fight. Vasco, says D'Lima, not only lost to East Bengal, but also squandered the opportunity of finishing runners-up and participating in the Champions' League, the losses of which amount to Rs 3.5 million.

Meanwhile, Vasco have issued a show-cause notice to Pereira. After receiving a reply from him, the club may serve a letter to this effect on Bagan.

Mohun Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra is unfazed by the accusations. "As far as we are concerned we have done nothing against the law of the country's football. Marcos has also not done anything wrong. Vasco has not said anything officially. Let them give an official letter to the AIFF. Then we will also give our official reply," he says.

Meanwhile, Renedy Singh, who has finalised a deal with Bagan as captain for the next season, has refused to sign till the club finalises who will be the coach of the team. Renedy, it is believed, is apprehensive about Syed Nayeeduddin, with whom his equations don't match, being handed the job.

The Churchill Brothers management too considering claiming damages from NFL champions East Bengal for signing Mahesh Gawli. But nothing has been decided yet as the red-gold brigade had signed Gawli after the termination of his contract with the Goan club.

In the meantime, East Bengal can breathe easy, as All India Football Federation president Priyaranjan Dasmunshi has turned down Vasco's demand to dislodge them from the champion's pedestal for playing Douglas D'Silva, who had overstayed in the country.

But the relief could be only for a while as Vasco, who lost to East Bengal in their penultimate match of the league 4-0, with D'Silva scoring twice, are likely to refer the matter to the AIFF's disciplinary committee. A favourable ruling for Vasco, who finished third behind Salgaocar, could give them the title, as they would end up with 46 points, the same as East Bengal, but with a better goal difference.

UNI