All India Football Federation (AIFF) sent an email to the Delhi Soccer Association asking for an explanation about what happened during Monday’s match in the Delhi Premier League.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Officials held an emergency meeting on Tuesday led by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey. Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) President Anuj Gupta was also summoned to get details of the incident and put forward the host association’s stance on the issue.
Apprehensions about match-fixing and betting emerged during a Delhi league match. In a match between Ahbab FC and Rangera FC, Ahbab FC were leading 4-0 but conceded two doubtful own goals late in the game as Ahbab FC ultimately won the match 4-2. The video footage of these own goals were circulated widely led by Delhi FC and Minerva Punjab FC Owner Ranjit Bajaj, prompting the AIFF to take action.
AIFF’s Wide-Ranging Investigation: Uncovering Irregularities Beyond Delhi Premier League
Kalyan Chaubey cleared his thoughts on how AIFF is not curtailing their investigation on just Monday’s match but on several matches questioning the complete league.
“Our investigation will not be limited to Delhi. We have reasons to believe through evidences, such practice in other cities too, and will form a wider network for our investigations,” Chaubey said in a release from the AIFF.
“We are not limiting our investigation to one match here. Several incremental shreds of evidence have been found which cast serious doubts on the entire league,” Kalyan Chaubey told ANI.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey further declared that he would hold a meeting with the Joint Commissioner of Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau to get the issue resolved.
🚨AIFF today called for an emergency meeting to lead the investigation into DSA match incident :
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) February 20, 2024
🔺 AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey to approach ACB Unit for a thorough investigation
🔺 Email notice served to DSA demanding details of incident. DSA advised to file FIR…
Kalyan Chaubey also added that he will be meeting the Anti-Corruption Bureau to help them with the investigation to get to the end of this scam.
“I will be meeting the Joint Commissioner of Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau to help us investigate it thoroughly and to get to the root of this syndicate. DSA has been advised to file an FIR immediately. Our investigation will not be limited to Delhi. We have reasons to believe through pieces of evidence, such practice in other cities too, and will form a wider network for our investigations,” Chaubey added.
Delhi Soccer Association Takes Action Against Alleged Match Fixing Scandal
Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) President Anuj Gupta asserted that he informed about the issue to the Delhi Police ad feels that the match officials (referees) are involved in this matter too.
“This is so shocking that such an incident happened in our league and we are on it for investigation and I informed the Delhi Police in this matter. I am looking for both clubs’ details along with players’ details and have to rectify whether they belong to Delhi or not and I feel referees are also involved in this,” Gupta said.
Anuj Gupta said that the Emergency Executive of Football Delhi suspended Ahbab FC with immediate effect until further notice. Delhi Premier League Sub Committee Chairman Rizwan Ul Haq will also be served with a show cause notice.
Gupta said a complaint will be filed do Delhi Police on Wednesday by Football Delhi to investigate any “match fixing” in Delhi Premier League.
“Numerous allegations of unsporting behavior have been placed on our association for the recently concluded Delhi Premier League 2023/24,” Gupta said in a statement.
Gupta assured that strict measures will be taken against such vile incidents for the growth of football in Delhi.
“As the governing body of football in the national capital, we must take a firm stance against the allegations… strict measures against any such incidents are vital for the development of football in Delhi.”
