24 July,2017 08:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Noel D'Souza
Left winger Abhinas Ruidas heaved a sigh of relief when he was drafted into Mumbai City FC at yesterday's ISL player draft for Rs 18 lakh. The deal marked the end of the alleged harassment meted out to him by his I-League East Bengal
Abhinas Ruidas
Abhinas Ruidas
Left winger Abhinas Ruidas heaved a sigh of relief when he was drafted into Mumbai City FC at yesterday's ISL player draft for Rs 18 lakh. The deal marked the end of the alleged "harassment" meted out to him by his I-League East Bengal. Ruidas, 21, who played ISL for Atletico de Kolkata last season, has been plying his trade for East Bengal for the last three years. His contract was supposed to end in June this year, he says, but the club allegedly forged his signature to extended it for another four years.
"I signed a two-year contract on June 3, 2015. Earlier this year, East Bengal told me to renew my contract. I asked them to wait and later quoted Rs 25 lakh as salary as I was getting offers from others clubs too," Ruidas told mid-day over the phone from Kolkata.
However, the player was in for a rude shock last month when East Bengal told him that there were still two years left on his contract.
"They must have forged my signature. There is no stamp on the contract. Even the date is handwritten. I was harassed my East Bengal. I was very upset. But today, I am really happy and my mind and body is all for Mumbai," added Ruidas. The issue is being investigated by the All India Football Federation.
