Uproar in the Maldives as football relegation battle decided by last-day no-show

There is uproar in the Dhiraagu Dhivehi Premier League, the leading football competition of the Maldives, after it was alleged one of the tropical archipelago’s leading clubs sought to escape relegation by failing to turn up for a match.

The Premier League side Green Streets beat the drop last Thursday after failing to turn up for their final league match of the season against New Radiant.

Had Green Streets lost by four goals or more, they would have been relegated on goal difference. Under the rules of the Football Association of the Maldives (FAM), however, any team that fail turn up for a match forfeit the game 2-0, a score that was enough to stay up.

The club sent down in Green Streets’ stead, Club Valencia, have not taken the matter lying down. Having won their final match, Valencia immediately issued a statement accusing their rivals of “fixing the outcome of the match”. Valencia said Green Streets behaviour was “disgusting” and had violated the rights of Valencia and New Radiant.

The FAM responded to the controversy by placing Green Streets, who denied any allegations of intentionally forfeiting the game, under a transfer ban and fining the club 50,000 Maldivian rufiyaa (£2,380). It also warned the club over their future conduct, saying: “If Green Streets repeats their actions, the committee has sent a warning stating they will take even stricter measures against the club.” But, crucially, it allowed the result to stand.

In a second statement Valencia said they did not accept the FAM’s verdict. “The club believes that the decision was made to show favouritism,” said Valencia, who suggested they would escalate their complaint to the Asian Football Confederation and Fifa.

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