FC Goa, Mizoram FC, Bengaluru FC, FC Madras, Dempo, and the RSDL have co-authored an open letter to Indian football, addressing age fraud. The issue is prevalent in the system and is yet to be dealt with by the AIFF, with the current measures proving to be ineffective as per the letter.
Two such examples were when 15 teams were disqualified from the U-14 Subroto Cup last year, in a case where 87 out of 126 players failed the age test. The other was that of Gourav Mukhi, who was banned by the ISL in 18/19 for posing as a 16-year-old.
Six Indian football associations start the age fraud conversation
It’s time to talk! An open letter to Indian Football 📩https://t.co/QaRp5oAemR pic.twitter.com/l3QyqjmGvq
— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) June 15, 2024
The current TW3 test has a margin of error of ±2 years, which is often the deal breaker when it comes to the youth levels. One of the alternatives suggested to combat age fraud is the process of Voluntary Age Rectification Scheme (VARS) where players can voluntarily and confidentially disclose their correct age, a system that is currently implemented by the Badminton Association of India.
The clubs have also mentioned that they will have anti age fraud messaging on their training kits from the 25-26 season, amplifying their message further. They have also suggested tournaments with recognised “honest actors” who are able to respect the spirit of the competition, starting at the U-15 level.
The six bodies encouraged others to speak up about the issue, and promised that they would go above and beyond to combat the issue to ensure fairness in competition. They also demanded strict punishments, specially for adults found engaging in such malpractices going forward.
As things stand, an official reply to the letter from the AIFF has not been released.
