In a dramatic development, Mohun Bagan suspended its captain Baichung Bhutia for six months from playing for the club, citing "violation of rules and regulations".
The move virtually prevents the Indian football ace from joining any other club.
Bhutia had sought release from Mohun Bagan after his commitment was questioned by the club in a showcause notice, served on him on May 15.
Dismissing his request, the club, at its executive committee meeting on Monday, suspended the iconic Indian footballer from playing for the club for six months.
"In a unanimous decision, we at our executive committee decided to suspend Bhutia for six months. During this time, he cannot play for Mohun Bagan," senior executive committee member Subrata Mukherjee told reporters.
In his acerbic best, Mukherjee added, "Despite being the captain, he has been defying rules and regulations of the club for a long time and thus breaching his contract. He has been irresponsible not only for practices but in international matches as well.
"In the interest of football, we have taken this decision and set a precedent that he is just like anybody else. Baichung may be a great player in India but he is not an institution. Mohun Bagan, being a very old national club, we have taken this decision."
Mukherjee though gave little room for reconsideration on the decision, saying the club could relax the suspension on the initiative of general secretary Anjan Mitra.
"We are not satisfied with Bhutia. We are unhappy, especially on the fact that Bhutia chose to ignore the showcause," said Mukherjee.
"If the general secretary feels Bhutia's suspension could be relaxed ... and it has to be ratified in an executive committee meeting again," he said.
Mukherjee said the club will convey the decision to the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Bhutia could appeal to the AIFF which, in turn, will direct its Players' Status Committee to resolve the dispute.
Away in Sikkim, Bhutia, who is reportedly in talks with his former club East Bengal, was not available for comment.
Meanwhile, East Bengal secretary Kalyan Majumdar said Bhutia can join his club only after getting an NOC from Mohun Bagan.
"We are not in talks with him until he gets his clearance. He has to get an NOC first," Majumdar said.
The Bhutia-Mohun Bagan rift started when the star striker missed an exhibition match of the club in Jalpaiguri.
In a strongly-worded showcause notice on May 14, club secretary Anjan Mitra had asked Bhutia, who recently won a reality show dance competition, to clarify his conduct within 48 hours and advised him not to join the team practice till that time.
Bhutia, however, chose not to reply to the showcause and, in a media conference on May 18 -- on the eve of their AFC Cup match -- announced his decision to part ways with the club.
Three days after declaring that he has no heart to play for Bagan, Bhutia sent a letter seeking immediate release from the club.
But with Mitra holidaying at Darjeeling, a decision on the letter was kept pending till Monday's executive committee meeting.
