Two Sr Div clubs relegated

Dhaka United Sports Club and Friends Social Welfare Organisation have both been scrapped from the Senior Division Football League and relegated to the second division after it was 'irrevocably proved' that the two sides played a fixed match in the recently concluded Saif Powertec Senior Division Football League.

The two clubs have also been imposed a monetary fine of Tk 50,000 each and the match between the two sides has been scrapped as well. Three players of Dhaka United SC were suspended for different terms due to their involvement in the match, which had helped Friends Social Welfare Organisation avoid relegation.

The Dhaka Metropolis Football League Committee (DMFLC) disclosed the decisions at a press conference at their Bangabandhu National Stadium office yesterday. The DMFLC had formed a three-member probe committee to look into the allegations following a complaint lodged by Badda Jagarani Sangsad.

Now, the standings of the 12-team league will be finalised in another DMFLC meeting and the already-relegated Badda Jagarani may avoid demotion due to the cancellation of Dhaka United SC and Friends Social's points.

"The decisions were taken in light of a recommendation from the probe committee as well as opinions of members of the league committee at the league committee meeting on Monday,” said DMFLC chairman Harunur Rashid.

"There were whispers regarding the match between Dhaka United and Friends Social. So we had taken measures by sending members of the disciplinary committee and the league committee to watch the match. Besides, we have reports of the referees and the match commissioner. So it was irrevocably proved and identified that the match between the two clubs was fixed even though no player or club official admitted to match fixing,” Rashid said as he explained how they reached the verdict.

Though the bylaws of the Senior Division League does not have a clause for scrapping any team for playing fixed matches, it does mention that the league committee can take any decision necessary if there is no clear explanation of anything in the bylaws. Therefore, the league committee took the opportunity to relegate both teams.

When asked why the clubs did not face any harsher punishment such as being suspended altogether, Rashid said: “The general secretaries of neither club admitted to the allegations, rather they claimed the allegations were brought against them to damage the image of the clubs. But we have given the highest punishment to the clubs.”

Rashid also informed that the DMLFC will recommend the Bangladesh Football Federation to impose maximum punishment on the players and clubs in line with the BFF code of conduct and the AFC/FIFA laws.