New Delhi: Varsha Vishwas Tarun Mandal, a senior division football team in Kolhapur, has accused multiple teams of match-fixing and manipulating results to eliminate teams from the outskirts of the city. In a formal complaint to the Kolhapur Sports Association (KSA), the club has alleged that three senior teams conspired to keep them from securing their place in the league by influencing BGM Sports to forfeit their match. They are now demanding strict action, including a three-year ban on BGM Sports for failing to turn up for the fixture.
The controversy erupted after Saturday’s scheduled match between Varsha Vishwas Tarun Mandal and BGM Sports. The latter did not appear for the game, and KSA awarded a ‘bye’ to Varsha Vishwas Tarun Mandal.
The club argues that had the match taken place and they had won, their spot in the senior division would have been secured. Instead, they claim that the no-show was part of a larger scheme involving financial transactions to push them out of the league.
Match-fixing allegations rock Kolhapur football
Varsha Vishwas Tarun Mandal stated in their letter that despite facing financial struggles and a lack of sponsorships, they managed to build a strong team with players from Assam, Pune, and other regions. They believe bigger clubs are unfairly targeting them and have urged KSA to ensure justice is served.
In addition to their own match, the club has also raised concerns over two other recent games. On Monday, Zunzar Club won against Uttareshwar Talim Mandal in a tie-breaker, a result that has now come under scrutiny. Similarly, Phulewadi Krida Mandal’s victory over Practice Club on Tuesday, also via a tie-breaker, has been called into question.
A KSA official confirmed that they had received statements from both Varsha Vishwas Tarun Mandal and BGM Sports. The association has assured that an investigation will be conducted before deciding on any further action. Meanwhile, BGM Sports defended their decision to withdraw from the match, citing low morale after suffering five consecutive defeats.
With serious allegations now surrounding the Kolhapur senior division, all eyes are on KSA to take decisive action and maintain the integrity of the competition.
