Football Lovers' Day - The Story Behind

16th August,1980. The day that shook two clubs from the City of Joy and hundreds of thousands of their fans. That was a day when Kolkata was victim to a shocking and a ghastly incident.

It happened so, that a few months before the fateful match, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal had a bitter clash in a Federation Cup match. This was enough to let either side's supporters feel the heat of the derby animosity; one could also say that a storm was brewing up ahead.

Finally, on the 16th of August, 1980, fans from both the factions ushered into the stadium, waiting for the game to unravel. Minutes into the match, the crowd was witness to an ugly spat between rival players Bidesh Bose and Dilip Palit. Soon, the situation worsened when both were given red cards at the 57th minute; the fury spread from the green turf to the stands. Pandemonium spread through the entire Eden Gardens. Fans started clashing with the rival team supporters and the stadium resembled a muggy battleground.

The passage of time only led to further deterioration. Lack of proper police protection and the absence of segregation of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal supporters caused severe physical damage to the the stadium as well as the people. Moreover, stampede was the main cause of the damages, more than the rioting and violence. Police reports claim the number of deaths due to rioting and stampede on that day to be around 16.

The repercussions were heavy. All the matches for the rest of the season were suspended. Both the teams were subject to disciplinary actions and were heavily fined.

In memoriam, the football fraternity of Kolkata observes, 'Football Lovers' Day' on the 16th of August every year.