Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC: How Southern Derby Started? Why There Is A Controversy?

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Kerala Blasters will welcome Bengaluru FC in a sixth-round match of ISL 2024-25 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Friday (October 25). In recent years, the clashes between these two teams have become fiercely competitive due to some controversies and some other factors.

Currently, with eight points in five matches, the Taskers are in the fifth position in the points table. On the other hand, Bengaluru FC remains the only unbeaten team so far in this tournament and managed to maintain the top spot with 13 points. More remarkably, they are yet to concede a goal this season after playing five matches.

Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC: What Was the Controversy?

In a playoff match against Bengaluru FC in 2023, Kerala Blasters left the match midway in protest, following a decision by the referee. In the 95th minute of the match, Blasters defender Vibin Mohanan fouled Sunil Chhetri in front of the penalty box and Bengaluru got a free-kick.

Sunil Chhetri took a free-kick early when Blasters players were still making the wall, and the ball entered into an unprotected net. However, the goal was given as the referee was aware that Chhetri was taking the shot and gave the signal to take the hit. As a result, Blasters players chose to protest in an unforeseen manner and chose to leave the pitch midway. The match ended with a 1-0 scoreline and BFC marched into the semifinal.

Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC: Why There Is A Rivalry?

The matches between these two teams are often called “Southern Derby” due to their intense rivalry. However, in their head-to-head Records, Bengaluru has complete dominance as they have won 11 times out of their 19 face-offs whereas Kerala won only four times.

However, the rivalry between these two teams began even before Bengaluru's debut in ISL. In 2017, two players from BFC, CK Vineeth and Rino Anto, were loaned to Kerala Blasters earlier, but before the start of the ISL season, both of them joined Blasters permanently.

This incident enraged the Bengaluru fanbase West Block Blues, and they showed massive protests against these two players during an AFC Cup match. Eventually, the incident led to a bantering war between the fans of these two teams on social media, and rivalry began, and Sunil Chhetri’s free-kick incident took it to another height.

Other than that, the geographical proximity between these city-based teams also intensified their competitiveness, which is often seen between fans of two closely based clubs around the club.

In the Friday evening match, Kerala will try their best to stop the dream run of the Blues and to make progress on the points table, while BFC will be confident enough to take the challenge as their defence is still invincible.