The Mizoram Football Association (MFA) was founded in 1945 and has previously been known by various names, including the Aizawl Sports Association and the Mizoram Sports Association. For more than seven decades, the association built a strong reputation, making the state of Mizoram proud by nurturing some of India’s top footballers. However, in November 2024, the MFA was rocked by its first-ever match-fixing scandal. Over two and a half months have passed since a statement listing the penalized players and officials.
More than 16 individuals have filed appeals since then, questioning the credibility of the MFA’s “evidence.”
Mizoram may not have many things to boast about—its rugged terrain, poor roads, and high youth unemployment are frequent headlines. However, there is one thing every Mizo can speak of with pride: the achievements of players like Jeje Lalpekhlua and Lianzuala Chhangte, who have made their mark in Indian football history.
Football is deeply ingrained in the state’s culture. In every village, there are grounds where most Mizos spend their free time, and the local football scene is as passionately followed as the Premier League in England, with households tuned into Disney Hotstar or Star Sports on match nights. So, when the news of the match-fixing scandal broke, it sent shockwaves throughout the state.
The statement condemned the actions and pledged to take swift action. “The Mizoram Football Association (MFA) wishes to inform the public and all stakeholders in Mizoram football of an unfortunate revelation within our football community,” read the statement, signed by Lalrengpuia, Honorary Secretary of the MFA. “Through diligent investigation, including support and cooperation from local law enforcement agencies, the MFA has uncovered corruption cases in the form of match manipulation. These activities, involving a few miscreants, represent a severe breach of our values and undermine the integrity of the sport.”
The MFA revealed the names of 3 clubs, 3 club officials, and 24 players involved in the scandal. The MFA emphasized its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and promised to take stringent measures to prevent a recurrence. “Clubs found to be complicit will face sanctions, and players and officials implicated will be subject to suspensions and other disciplinary actions,” the statement concluded.
While some players received bans ranging from one to five years, two players received lifetime suspensions. One of them was Lironthung Lotha from Nagaland.
Lotha spoke out about the process, explaining that he couldn’t attend the hearing in Mizoram due to a family emergency. “They issued a letter calling me to Mizoram for a hearing, but I was in Nagaland at the time, and my mother was about to undergo surgery. I sent them documents regarding her illness and requested either a rescheduled date or an online hearing. Unfortunately, my request was ignored, and I was banned for life without ever being given a chance to present my side,” he said.
Upon learning of the ban, Lotha felt there was little he could do, as the decision had already been made. He stated that the only course of action left for him was to stand up for his rights, both as an Indian citizen and as a professional footballer.
In an interview with EastMojo, Lotha vehemently denied any involvement in the match-fixing allegations made by the Mizoram Football Association. “Match-fixing happens on the field, and they can review all the matches I’ve played. In sports, you might be at your best today and struggle tomorrow—my performance should not be the basis for a lifetime ban,” he said.
Lotha began playing football at the age of 10. Now 24, he credits Cristiano Ronaldo as his inspiration to pursue football professionally. “It’s been my dream career since childhood. Football is my life—everything I do revolves around it. For my future, for my family, I live for football. From morning until night, I’m always dreaming about it.”
Three officials from three clubs and 24 players were banned. One was banned from any football-related activities for 5 years, while two were banned for three years.
One of the three, a 43-year-old on the condition of anonymity spoke to EastMojo sharing his woes and disbelief on the decision taken by the MFA.
“I was called for a hearing on the 31st, but it did not take the nature of a hearing, rather it was more like an accusatory meeting. They asked me to admit the wrongdoing when I never indulged in any kind of practices,” he said.
The 43-year-old explained that the officials questioned how he managed to run the club and the source of its finances, as well as whether he was in frequent communication with any non-locals. “I told them that I seek out sponsors to help the club survive and that I have many friends and acquaintances who are non-locals,” he said. “I even offered to let them check my bank account if necessary, as I have never paid players anything beyond their agreed salary.”
When the MFA interrogated him regarding allegations that some of the club’s players had admitted to match-fixing, the 43-year-old asked them to bring those players into the room and ask them directly if he had any involvement in their actions. When they told him that some players had confessed, he responded, saying, “Punish those who admitted to it, but let the innocent ones go.”
The club official asked for evidence but according to him, the only evidence the MFA could purportedly give him was that their source was anonymous. The hearing was held on October 31, and just three days later, on November 4, the statement banning the players and officials was made public.
The banned official said he wanted to write an appeal but was unsure whether it would receive any response. When he learned that, with a lawyer’s help, an unaddressed appeal could be escalated to larger platforms like the AIFF, he decided to seek legal representation.
Having already been banned from their primary source of livelihood, the players and officials found themselves without a stable income. Faced with this, they decided to pool their resources and hire a lawyer as a group.
For people like the 43-year-old club official—a father of two—surviving has become the biggest challenge. A member of the local council and an active church leader, he had worked tirelessly to build his reputation. However, the MFA’s accusations shattered his legacy, leaving him to face scorn and contempt from his community.
“I dare not contest in the upcoming local council elections anymore, and even our church has been hesitant to give me any responsibilities,” he said. “One of our church leaders even reached out to a member of the MFA to inquire about my case. The MFA member reportedly responded, saying, ‘Even if we can’t see a woman having physical relations with a man, we can see the result of their actions when she’s pregnant,’ comparing my situation to that of a pregnant woman.”
“The only request I have is if they have permitted us to appeal, they should respond to our appeal. We do not want any calling out of names but they have been silent for too long and it accounts for disrespect to a fellow human being. We are just living every day as though we have committed wrongdoing. Every person has a right to justice,” he said.
Explaining that he is too old to pursue a new career after dedicating his life to football, the 43-year-old has had to turn to daily labour to support his family. “My only option now is to fight to survive and ensure my family does as well,” he said.
EastMojo reached out to the lawyer representing Lotha and around 16 other players banned by the MFA. He stated, “We’ve contacted them more than 10 times via email, phone, and WhatsApp, but we’ve never received a clear response. We want to speak to the right authorities so our clients can receive the justice they deserve.”
EastMojo also reached out to Lalrengpuia, the honorary secretary of the MFA, regarding the appeals. He responded, saying that they have taken note of all the appeals and are eager to resolve the issue. “We will call everyone in and listen to any new information or details they wish to share. We hope to conduct these hearings by the end of the month,” he said. He also clarified that while they acknowledge the appeals, they are not required to reply formally.
A sports journalist, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told EastMojo, “The root of all these issues is the MFA’s failure in management. They’ve been on the wrong path from the start. It could be said that they’ve consistently ignored the rights and welfare of the clubs and their players. The players are struggling financially—some earn only Rs. 4,000 a month, which is hardly enough to survive.” He also alleged that some MFA members may have been involved in the scandal.
A trusted source informed EastMojo that even among MFA members, there was alleged disagreement over the bans of certain players and the accusations in the match-fixing scandal.
When asked about any internal issues within the MFA, Lalrengpuia responded, “We have no such problems within the MFA. A match-fixing scandal of this nature has never occurred in Mizoram. So, when we became aware of it, we felt it was necessary to take action, especially since several players came forward and admitted their involvement.”
Also Read: Manipur: How Catholics established a foothold in Ukhrul
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