Mohammedan Sporting will play its matches of the IFA Premier Division League wearing black badges to protest against the association's alleged partisan attitude towards East Bengal.

Sporting officials decided at a meeting that they would play the matches under protest, but would not play if their clash against East Bengal is scheduled for September 8 or 9.

The Muslim festival of 'Shab-e-Barat' will be observed on September 8 or 9 and, as such, the team will not play those days, the officials said.

The IFA has, however, called a meeting of its governing body to make changes in the fixtures and also invited Mohammedan Sporting to be present, but the club officials decided not to attend it.

The match between East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting was earlier scheduled for August 30, but was postponed to September 8 on an appeal by East Bengal, as several players of its players are in the national camp and would not have been able to play if the match was held on that day.

In view of the continuous acrimony between the IFA and Mohammedan Sporting, All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi has called a meeting of officials of the club and the IFA on Thursday in New Delhi to find an amicable solution.

• Complete football coverage