Explained: Can Anwar Ali Play For East Bengal Against Kerala Blasters After Receiving NOC From AIFF

Anwar Ali is free to join East Bengal officially as the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Player Status Committee has granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Indian defender. This massive development means Anwar is now free to play for East Bengal. The transfer saga began when Anwar Ali terminated his four year loan deal with Mohun Bagan in July and signed a whopping five year contract with East Bengal. The Green and Maroons had appealed to the PSC citing Anwar's cause of terminating the contract was illegal. The Player Status Committee came out with their verdict in favour of Mohun Bagan as they insisted the contract termination was done without a 'just cause' A hefty 12.90 crore fine was slapped on the Red and Golds and both they and Delhi FC received a two window transfer ban. But as the matter moved to the Delhi High Court, they quashed all the previous rulings and asked the PSC to put up a fresh judgement for Anwar Ali. In a major relief, the 24 year old has now received the NOC after two days later. Anwar missed the first game as East Bengal succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League. But the player has been registered for the ISL and ahead of the Kerala Blasters game, Carles Cuadrat has got a major boost. As the NOC has already arrived, Anwar will now be available for the game against Kerala Blasters on September 22. East Bengal have amassed a pretty competitive squad on paper and the onus will be on the Kolkata giants to better their previous ISL standings. Anwar has previously plied his trade for FC Goa and Indian arrows. Regarded as India's one of the best defenders, the player is yet to play a match this season.