By Zainab Shafiq 
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) responded with an official statement addressing the alleged denial of entry to fans during their clash against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Saturday, May 20. The match was noteworthy as the Lucknow-based franchise paid homage to the revered Indian football club, Mohun Bagan, by donning a maroon and green outfit.
However, prior to the game, certain fans wearing Mohun Bagan jerseys were denied entry by the KKR management. In light of this incident, KKR released an official statement, expressing their concern over what they referred to as “ambush marketing by vested interests.”
The statement clarified the role of the KKR management in crowd management at the stadium, stating, “There are some misleading reports that KKR management stopped some fans from entering Eden Gardens during the KKR vs LSG game on May 20. For the record, KKR management has nothing to do with the crowd management at the stadium.”
According to the statement, the IPL Anti-Ambush Marketing Team promptly intervened to address an alleged ambush marketing attempt by certain individuals. KKR expressed gratitude towards its loyal fans in Kolkata, acknowledging the significant support they have received over the years. The statement emphasized KKR’s commitment to never disrespecting anyone and highlighted their large fan base, which contributes to making every game at Eden Gardens a full house.
Prior to the release of KKR’s official statement, Debashish Dutta, the general secretary of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club, expressed his discontent with the incident. Dutta stressed the significance of the match for Mohun Bagan supporters, who are also fans of both KKR and LSG. He criticized the KKR management for restricting the freedom of these supporters by denying them entry to the stadium solely based on their choice to wear Mohun Bagan jerseys.
Dutta condemned the decision made by the KKR management, describing it as disrespectful to the national club of India and an affront to the sentiments of Mohun Bagan supporters. He emphasized that individuals have the right to support and wear the jersey of the team they love, asserting that no one should interfere with personal choices.