Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya faced criticism after mispronouncing the names of historic football clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal as "Mohun Began" and "East Began" at an ISL press conference. The minister, alongside AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, announced the ISL 2025-26 season's restart on February 14. While the league's return was welcomed, clips of the verbal slip circulated online, drawing ridicule from fans and sharp reactions from opposition leaders who viewed it as a sign of disrespect to Bengal's football heritage.