Ali Thameem
Club Valencia has released a statement regarding the no-show of Club Green Streets for today’s game against New Radiant, pleading the Football Association of Maldives to investigate the matter.
Claiming that Green Streets committed a ‘disgusting act’ of match-fixing, Valencia accused the latter of deciding the result of a match by themselves.
As things stand, Valencia is being relegated on the basis of goal-advantage. Valencia concluded their DPL campaign by defeating Club Eagles by 2-0 yesterday evening. Their only chance of survival hinged on the possibility of New Radiant winning with a five-goal difference against Green Streets with this evening – because Valencia and Green Streets were equal on points.
According to the statement by Valencia, the absence of Green Streets for today’s game was a deliberate act of sending Valencia into relegation. It “violates the rights of Valencia”, and, according to Valencia, Green has also stripped the rights of their opponents of the day; New Radiant Sports Club, and its players.
Citing the rules of Dhivehi Premier League where a no-show grants the opponents with three points and two goals, Valencia implied today’s no-show by Green Streets constitutes to match-fixing.
“It is a behaviour in contrary to the respected laws of the game, and of its discipline” said the club in its statement. “Sports and its result is something to be decided by two opposing sides competing”.
Valencia’s statement went on to highlight that the act of match-fixing is a crime worth severe punishment in international football as well, and by threatening to take this matter to AFC and to FIFA.
