The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced an investigation into reports of "match manipulation" approaches targeting multiple I-League players. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, without specifying details, affirmed the commitment to safeguarding the game's integrity. The 2023 I-League season, comprising 13 teams, began in October with over 40 matches played.
Chaubey emphasised a thorough examination of the incidents, promising necessary actions to protect players and the sport. The AIFF, expressing zero tolerance for activities impacting competition integrity, vowed to strengthen institutional capacities to counter threats and educate stakeholders on identifying, responding to, and reporting such incidents.
"We have received information on multiple approaches to our players. We will 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," Chaubey said in a statement.
This development echoes past instances of corruption in Indian football. In 2018, the AIFF acknowledged investigating match-fixing approaches directed at players from the Minerva Punjab Football Club during the I-League. Last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated a preliminary enquiry into alleged match-fixing, collecting documents from the AIFF regarding various Indian football clubs. The focus was on an alleged match-fixer based in Singapore and their role in manipulating match outcomes.
"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," said Chaubey.
"AIFF is committed to taking every step within its power to prevent corrupt practices from undermining the values of football," it said.
As Indian football contends with these challenges, the AIFF's proactive stance underscores the ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of competitions. Addressing corruption in sports remains a priority, with authorities striving to uphold fair play and the spirit of the game.
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