Ali Thameem
It was the eighteenth and final gameweek. The resurgent season of Dhivehi Premier League 25/26 had seen Maziya SR defend the title with a game in hand.
On the bottom end of the league, United Victory had already accepted their fate of direct relegation.
As for the team to go down with UV, much uncertainty remained. The two clubs fighting for survival, Club Valencia and Club Green Streets, were equal on points.
Valencia’s game was to be played first, against Club Eagles. They could not have afforded a draw, let alone a defeat. Valencia rose to the challenge, and defeated Eagles by two-nil. They awaited fate.
On the final day, Green Streets were scheduled to play New Radiant. As things stood between them and Valencia in terms of goal-deficit, Green could have afforded to lose and still survive – as long as New Radiant wins it by not more than five goals.
But for some strange reason, Green could not muster a squad for the day. And as per the DPL rules relating to no-show, Green Streets were declared to have lost the game, by a two-goal deficit.
Green Streets survived. They remained at eighth place, which meant playoffs with TC Sports Club and the winners of the four Regional Leagues.
But within hours, Valencia, who by then were guaranteed relegation, released a statement pointing fingers at Green for their ‘disgusting act’ of what Valencia believed to be match-fixing.
Valencia accuses Green Streets of ‘disgusting’ act of match-fixing
Valencia said this forfeited game violated their rights, and the rights of New Radiant who were deprived of a fair game of football on the field.
What followed was a war of words between Green and Valencia.
On February 8, three days after Valencia publicized the statement, FAM imposed a transfer ban and a fine of MVR 50,000/- on Club Green Streets. However, the club filed an appeal after the given seven-day period had passed, a trusted source from FAM informed Sidibari. Therefore, “the appeals committee of the FA has rejected the complaint filed by Valencia”, stated the official.
What Valencia wanted was a much more consequential punishment than a mere fine and a transfer ban. Following FAM’s verdict against Green Streets, Valencia shared its objections in another press release, stating that: a) Imposing sanctions against Green Streets is proof that FAM was aware of the incident of forfeiting the match, b) A transfer ban that would not take effect until the next window means Green Streets are given the chance to extend player contracts, implying the consequence to CGS is insufficient, c) Fines and transfer bans are common punishments against clubs, and thus undermine the seriousness of forfeiting games, and d) FAM had not addressed any of the initial concerns by Valencia.
Valencia had threatened to take the matter to both AFC and FIFA.
For the next few days, there was palpable fear that Green Streets might actually face a point-deduction, or worse, a suspension.
Following the statement released by Valencia, a representative of Green Streets reached out to Sidibari, vehemently dismissing the allegations of ‘match-fixing’. Green Streets has always been about the greater good of Maldivian football, the representative said. He pointed out how Green Streets got out of their way to speed up the election process.
The “swing vote of Green Streets” was pivotal to the trajectory of the sport, he reminded. The club’s endorsement of the incumbent president, Ahmed Thariq (Tom), got the voting powers out of an electoral stalemate that eventually got the FA out of the path towards suspension.
“The club did everything they could to meet the required number of players for Thursday”, said the Green official. “And we took ticket for Anko (Ansar Ibrahim), to bring (him) for New Radiant match.. why would we spend 400 (US) dollars to bring him back, if we decided not to play the match?”
“So why the double standards against Green Streets..??” asked the official. “Shouldn’t Valencia and Eagles be accused of the same??” Green Streets found it suspicious that a team as strong as Club Eagles were defeated 2-0 by Valencia on the final gameweek.
The Football Association of Maldives did not put further sanctions on Green Streets. It also rejected Valencia’s appeal which the FA said was submitted past the seven-day appeal period.
But if it is worth any consolation for Valencia, Green Streets eventually faced their day of reckoning.
Green got relegated after losing their play-off battles in the DPL Qualification Tournament in June. However, their DPL counterparts, TC Sports Club, survived the relegation scare.
TC Sports Club will return to DPL alongside the North League champions Dhidhdhoo, South League champions Gadhdhoo, and Male’ League (Second Division) champions Biss Buru.
Club Valencia and Green Streets will be playing Male’ League this upcoming season.
Whether the fans will get to see either the whites and greens of Green Streets or the yellow jersey of Valencia in the DPL in the near future, nobody knows.
What is certain is that the path up from second tier has become way more challenging, given that Regional Champions from the atolls are also vying for the same promotional spots for the DPL.
