AIFF may approach police after Minerva report fixing
If there is a silver lining to the approach made to fix I-League games this term, it is how promptly Minerva Punjab FC have flagged it. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will now alert the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and, if required, seek police help.
“We may approach the police but first, we need to find out whether the offers were made from within the country,” said Javed Siraj, the AIFF’s integrity officer who was appointed in 2014 in accordance with Fifa guidelines. Minerva Punjab FC, leaders in the I-League with 22 points, have also informed the AFC that an Indian and a foreign footballer on their roster were approached with baits of ~30 lakh to fix I-League games.
“The club used the (recently launched) AFC’s Integrity app to do that. We will inform the AFC separately,” said Siraj, over the phone from New Delhi on Thursday. Siraj said the AIFF conducts workshops before every season with emphasis on three Rs — Recognise, Reject and Report. Siraj and I-League CEO Sunando Dhar also praised Minerva Punjab FC
CHANDIGARH:
players and the club for their reaction. “This is the first time such an incident has been brought to our notice,” said Dhar.
On Thursday, Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj said: “The Indian player received a call on Tuesday night and, after a general discussion on the season, the caller asked him whether he is open to fixing a match for ~30 lakh. The player blocked the number immediately and we informed both AIFF and AFC. The foreign player was approached via Facebook. We have the screen shots.”