Sports Reporter
Compared to the four previous editions, the fifth professional football league is being considered more competitive as at least three teams are in title race and at least four teams are in threat of relegation after the completion of the first leg matches.
Now, the second leg of the Bangladesh Premier League is about to get underway from Thursday and coaches of different clubs have expressed their concern about the possibility of fixed matches as they fear teams might contrive to confirm the title or avert relegation from the top flight.
Three-time champions Abahani are on top of the table with 24 points from 10 matches followed by Muktijoddha Sangsad's 21, Team BJMC's 16 while Feni Soccer Club, Rahmatganj MFS, Arambagh KS and Farashganj SC are in threat of relegation with 10, 9, 9 and 8 points respectively. Two teams from the Bangladesh Premier League will be relegated to the Bangladesh Championship League this time.
“Considering previous experience, the BFF should strengthen their monitoring system in order to prevent or foil any possibility of matches being fixed in the second leg,” said Team BJMC coach Jakaria Babu, whose side are in third position with 16 points.
“As more than one team are in the title race, any of the teams may want to adopt unfair means. The governing body of football should find use alternate methods rather than traditional ones to find out any unfair means,” added the BJMC coach.
The Bangladesh Football Federation has been capturing the video footages of the league matches, which is the only source of finding out any unfair means.
After terming last year's match between Rahmatganj MFS and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club as a 'compromised match', the BFF inserted a clause in its bylaws that would enable it to curtail points if any team is proved guilty of match fixing or any such illegal act.
Sheikh Russel KC coach Maruful Haq, whose side are still in the title race with 14 points, fears match fixing may take a different form altogether this time around.
“Match fixing may get a different dimension this time. You may not see any side conceding too many goals, but key players may be omitted from the line up with an excuse of injuries or booking. The governing body should check out these things as well as only video footage will not be enough to find out unfair means,” said Maruf.
Arambagh KS coach Zahidur Rahman Milon and Farashganj SC coach Kamal Babu echoed the sentiments of the other coaches and urged the BFF to strengthen the monitoring system in the second leg.
“BFF officials do not watch the matches. They should come to the field or at least appoint someone to monitor the matches as bottom clubs are desperate to avoid relegation,” said Milon adding that if BFF can't stop the unfair means in the league, they should stop relegating teams.
“I will expect strong steps from the BFF but I am worried whether they will take any such steps as the club officials hold all top positions in the federation,” feared Farashganj coach Kamal Babu.
Apart from inserting a punishment clause, BFF has also formed a special committee comprising five persons from outside the federation, who will decide if any such issues related to match fixing are raised. But unfortunately committee has not even sat together once in the past five months.
There has been suspicion of a fixed match between Brothers Union and Rahmatganj just before the BFF election which has been dubbed as 'election game' by different national dailies, but no steps have been taken as yet by the BFF to investigate the match.
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