Kolkata:
After getting interim relief in the bitter suspension row with Mohun Bagan, Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia formally signed up for East Bengal at the India Football Association (IFA)'s office here on Wednesday.
The India captain, who was suspended for six months without pay by Bagan in June, will resume his domestic football career when East Bengal take on Pune FC in their I-League opener in Pune on October 3.
"We have received the order from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) today and we completed the paperwork," IFA secretary Utpal Ganguli said.
East Bengal will leave for Pune on Thursday to kick-start their I-League campaign away two days later.
The star striker got interim relief from the AIFF arbitrator Amarendra Sharan on the Bhutia-Mohun Bagan row.
Sharan has said since he would need some more time to submit his report he decided to allow Bhutia to play with a rider that if the decision goes against him then he will have to sit out the entire season and pay back the club the advance he received.
Mohun Bagan, however, protested the decision and claimed that they would take up the matter with FIFA.
Mohun Bagan had suspended Bhutia for six months without pay on disciplinary grounds after he missed an exhibition match and some practice sessions last season.
Bhutia appealed against the ban and in the meantime entered into an agreement with his former club East Bengal.
The India captain, who was suspended for six months without pay by Bagan in June, will resume his domestic football career when East Bengal take on Pune FC in their I-League opener in Pune on October 3.
"We have received the order from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) today and we completed the paperwork," IFA secretary Utpal Ganguli said.
East Bengal will leave for Pune on Thursday to kick-start their I-League campaign away two days later.
The star striker got interim relief from the AIFF arbitrator Amarendra Sharan on the Bhutia-Mohun Bagan row.
Sharan has said since he would need some more time to submit his report he decided to allow Bhutia to play with a rider that if the decision goes against him then he will have to sit out the entire season and pay back the club the advance he received.
Mohun Bagan, however, protested the decision and claimed that they would take up the matter with FIFA.
Mohun Bagan had suspended Bhutia for six months without pay on disciplinary grounds after he missed an exhibition match and some practice sessions last season.
Bhutia appealed against the ban and in the meantime entered into an agreement with his former club East Bengal.
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