For the last few days rumors were abound on the internet where sources close to various state football associations hurling accusations that certain teams participating in the 49th Junior National Football Championship has over aged players in their team. It was interesting to note that a state run sports body who is fielding their team was also accused of age-fraud.
Putting the rumors to bed is an article from The Telegraph which quotes an AIFF official.
“Bengal are one of the few states, who stuck by the rule book and fielded a side that had footballers within the stipulated age,” said an AIFF official. “Teams like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya also adhered to the age restriction.
“For the rest of the states, it has become a free for all,” claimed the official.
Age-fraud is a serious malaise that needs to curbed else all these national level age-group tournaments turn worthless and associations that comply to the rules are made a laughing stock.
We at Football News India believe, AIFF, for the greater good of the game should ban State/District associations for a certain period of time if they are found fielding an over-age team in an age-group tournament.
Quotes in the article is sourced from – Age-fudging at AIFF meet
According to AIFF president Praful Patel, India will submit the bid for U-17 FIFA world cup shortly. Recently there were reports that FIFA had extended the dates for bid submission to November 15th.
