APF allege match-fixing

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

Armed Police Force (APF), who are facing relegation threat, alleged other clubs of plotting against them and fixing matches in the ongoing Martyrs Memorial ´A´ Division Football League.

After their defeat from another relegation threatened Sankata Club, APF team manager Prem Kumar Shrestha, during the post match conference, admitted they have the highest chance of being relegated.

"This was a crucial match. We could not play well and lost the match. The results will help others to plot against us and fulfill their desire to relegate the departmental team," said Shrestha.

"We accept that we are among the weaker teams, but if the league had gone in a fair way we wouldn´t have faced relegation," he said. "Machhindra Club, who stunned top clubs earlier lost to Sankata, and star-packed Three Star played a draw with Boys Union. Everybody can say these are not coincidences," Shrestha claimed.

"Our club was established to help national football and we have been offering national stars to play for our club. We have already signed national players like Nirajan Malla and Noor Raj Kafle. However, we cannot call them to play ´B´ division if we are relegated. So, we´ll not play ´B´ division," threatened Shrestha.

However, All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Secretary-General Dhirendra Pradhan claimed that the organizers are unaware of the charges.

"We have not seen signs of match-fixing. If APF have seen anything we ask them to report to ANFA," said Pradhan. "We are ready to investigate if APF officially report such cases. We are ready to take action against the players and clubs if found guilty," added Pradhan.