The AIFF have reiterated their stance against match-fixing, in response to such allegations coming from the I-League. The 13-team competition was recently confirmed as the second division of Indian football, behind the ISL. The I-League is no longer televised, and rumours surrounding match fixing have now resulted in the governing body considering a probe into the matter.
An official statement released by the AIFF revealed that they are now aware of certain players manipulating results. If found guilty, a player could be at the risk of a lengthy ban from football, or worse punishment.
AIFF addresses I-League match-fixing allegations in official statement
“The AIFF would like to reiterate its zero-tolerance policy towards any activity that impacts the integrity of its competitions or otherwise brings the game of football into disrepute. AIFF is committed to taking every step within its power to prevent corrupt practices from undermining the values of football,” the governing body said about match fixing approach in I-League.
“We have received information on multiple approaches to our players. We‘ll thoroughly examine the incidents, investigate, and take all necessary action.
“We are committed to protecting our players and our beautiful game and will not tolerate any attempts of this nature to put the players and the game at risk.”
“We will also continue to strengthen our institutional capacities to not only counter such threats but also educate our players and officials on how to recognise, respond to, and report incidents of this nature,” the statement concluded.
As things stand, the I-League has less than a month to run, with the final match being played on December 24. Sreenidi Deccan currently sit atop the table, albeit having played one game more than Mohammedan Sporting, also having 16 points but having played one game less.
