The Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) has taken swift action against the Ahbab Football Club, suspending the team due to ongoing investigations into match-fixing allegations. The controversy came to light following the circulation of a video showing players scoring own goals during a match where Ahbab FC was leading 4-0. The incident occurred in the Delhi Premier League during a game against Rangers SC, which Ahbab FC eventually won 4-2. However, the suspicious own goals in the latter part of the match raised eyebrows among spectators and prompted widespread concern across social media platforms.
The viral video quickly captured the attention of Indian football fans, sparking a serious dialogue about the integrity of the sport in the country. In response to the uproar, Indian football president Kalyan Chaubey acknowledged the gravity of the situation. Chaubey stated, "We’ve been made aware of videos circulating on SM, raising serious suspicion on Delhi Premier League. Prima facie, it’s very concerning. Over the past few months, we’ve been collecting hard evidence on suspicious matches with continuous investigation to eliminate such instances from #IndianFootball."
Following the controversy, the DSA convened an emergency committee meeting to deliberate on the alleged match-fixing within the Delhi Premier League 2023-24 season. The outcome of this meeting led to the immediate suspension of Ahbab Football Club. The DSA declared, "An emergency committee meeting of DSA was held to address the alleged match-fixing allegations in the recently concluded Delhi Premier League 2023-24. The outcome of the same is as follows: Ahbab Football Club is suspended with immediate effect. This suspension will remain in effect until the outcome of the investigation."
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