West Bengal Sports Minister Indranil Khan on Thursday levelled serious allegations of corruption and unethical practices against Diamond Harbour Football Club, which is linked to Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, saying multiple complaints concerning the club were being investigated.
Khan alleged that the complaints ranged from financial irregularities and suspected black-money transactions to nepotism, forcible occupation and violations of sporting ethics. He also claimed there were allegations concerning the manipulation of referees and matches. The minister stressed that these were allegations under investigation and said the state government would not tolerate unethical practices in football.
Minister targets club’s functioning
Khan alleged that Diamond Harbour FC had been used for corrupt and unethical activities, arguing that such practices had harmed both footballers and the reputation of the sport in West Bengal.
He also targeted the previous Trinamool Congress government, accusing it of allowing politics to become deeply embedded in football administration. According to Khan, political interference had damaged Bengal's sporting environment and contributed to the state's declining influence in Indian football.
Describing West Bengal as a state where football remains deeply rooted in popular culture, Khan said efforts were now underway to remove political and corrupt influences from the Kolkata Maidan. He added that former footballers were being given a greater role in efforts to revive the sport.
Earlier complaints under scrutiny
The latest remarks come against the backdrop of scrutiny surrounding Diamond Harbour FC over the past few months. Earlier complaints against the club included questions about its funding, compliance with rules and the occupation of the ground used for training. Authorities had said these matters would be examined and that sponsors could also come under scrutiny as part of the investigation.
In June, All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey also said allegations of financial and compliance irregularities concerning the club would be examined by the appropriate authorities.
Diamond Harbour FC is associated with Abhishek Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress MP and senior party leader. The club has risen rapidly through the domestic football structure in recent years, making the allegations particularly significant for Bengal football.
Match ethics allegations deepen controversy
Among the most serious claims raised by Khan are those concerning sporting integrity. He alleged that complaints had been received about attempts to influence refereeing as well as matches themselves. No findings establishing those allegations have yet been made public.
Khan said the investigation would examine the complaints and reiterated that practices compromising the integrity of football would not be accepted.
The allegations add a political dimension to the controversy because of Diamond Harbour FC's association with Banerjee. However, the charges remain allegations pending investigation, and the available reports did not carry a response from Diamond Harbour FC or Banerjee to Khan's latest remarks.