The owner of Minerva Punjab FC, Ranjit Bajaj has made some surprising revelations about Indian Football. The famous football administrator who also owns Delhi FC has sparked a firestorm of controversy by suggesting that match-fixing plagues Indian state competitions, notably the Delhi Senior Premier League.
Ranjit Bajaj’s accusations stems from being at the receiving end of a fiercely contested match between Sudeva Delhi FC and Delhi FC on January 2nd, 2024. Delhi FC took the lead in the first half but Sudeva Delhi FC equalized in the form of a penalty in extra time and converted successfully and the match ended in a draw.
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ISL Referees in Target by Ranjit Bajaj as He Calls State Leagues Being Fixed in Delhi Senior Premier League
Ranjit Bajaj has been a pioneer for Indian Football for a long time, so has been his clubs and the efforts he puts in for helping these clubs. However, Bajaj has reservations regarding the state leagues’ current direction and the requirement to make strategic changes in that area.
As it is, the development of Indian Football is slow and at it’s current growing speed it might take another twenty years to get to a competitive level and possibly rank in the top 10 Asian teams. This gaping hole exists due to the absence of a clear structure and this is where the roles of state leagues become important as they serve as the main gateway for young aspirants to showcase their abilities.
Taking to X (Twitter), Bajaj expressed his concerns, stating: “This is what ISL referees & ISL linesman do in state leagues & then they are again given ISL matches – there is no accountability or transparency in any league in India – can’t believe how that can be a penalty 94th minute – it’s a huge statement I am making but DELHI SENIOR PREMIER league is fixed & main sponsor is DAFA bet for Delhi football association – no point playing in fixed leagues; it’s actively participating in killing the game – every game in the league has atrocious decisions no one cares @IndianFootball.“
Along with the claims of match-fixing, Ranjit Bajaj has specifically named the referees involved in the controversial match in the lower corner of the video he posted. Bajaj has shed light on the following match officials who were in charge of the Sudeva Delhi FC vs Delhi FC match- Centre Referee Aditya Purkayashta and other referees Kuldeep Singh Tariyal and Rohit Pandey. Ranjit demands a thorough investigation into the officiating of that particular match.
Ranjit Bajaj’s allegations put the spotlight on what he deems as a lack of accountability and transparency in the Indian football league system. Ranjit Bajaj expresses his concerns about having dafabet as the main sponsor for the Delhi Senior Premier League as it raises eyebrows, questioning the integrity of the league. Match fixing can ruin the soul of the sport that’s so popular in India so it’s absolutely necessary that an accusation as serious as this is treated with the right amount of urgency from football authorities.
The penalty awarded in the 94th minute of the Sudeva Delhi FC vs. Delhi FC match has become a key point in Bajaj’s argument. Bajaj claims that such decisions have the ability to harm the essence of the game and strong actions must be taken to eradicate such wrong doers and cannot be left unattended.
In another surprising recent incident on 19 February in a match between Ahbab FC and Rangers, an alleged match-fixing came to light in the Delhi Football League almost a month apart from the initial accusations.
I can guarantee that fixing is rampant in the @FootballDelhi senior premier division- that’s why we true to play In it ever again till they take action- I have been saying it again and again- the most corrupt league In the country – @ILeague_aiff is not behind – referees – team… pic.twitter.com/6VTWDXc90Q
— Ranjit Bajaj (@THE_RanjitBajaj) February 19, 2024
During the game, players from Ahbab FC appeared to concede two soft goals between the 86th minute mark to 90th minute mark despite leading the match 4-0. And Ahbab FC secured a win with an interesting score line of 4-2.
The incident came to light when video clips of the two goals were circulated on social media and fans complained about their favorable nature. In the videos that were shared it showed clear evidence that the game was being rigged. And soon after, Ranjit Bajaj, Delhi FC owner took to social media and alleged that his team was also being approached by betting companies.
We’ve been made aware of videos circulating on SM,raising serious suspicion on Delhi Premier League. Prima facie, it’s very concerning
— Kalyan Chaubey (@kalyanchaubey) February 19, 2024
Past few months we’re collecting hard evidence on suspicious matches with continuous investigation to eliminate such instances fm #IndianFootball
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey has been made aware of the situation and in an X (Twitter) post he assured that an investigation is taking place to collect hard evidences and address the people responsible.
