The 63rd Subroto Cup Sub-Junior Boys International Football Tournament, which kicked off in Bengaluru on Monday, saw a significant setback with the disqualification of three teams for fielding overage players. The affected teams are Nazareth Model High School, Dima Hasao, Assam; Nehru Public School, Jamui, Bihar; and Ultou Govt. Model High School, Bishnupur, Manipur.
The disqualification came after a Skeletal Age Estimation Test was conducted, as per the tournament regulations and criteria set by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The test revealed that each of the disqualified teams had more than four players exceeding the permissible age limit.
The Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society, under the aegis of the Air Force Sports Control Board, made the official announcement regarding the disqualifications. They further stated that the reports of three other teams – from Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra – are still pending and will be received on Tuesday. A decision on these teams will be made based on the results of their age estimations.
The matches played by the disqualified teams on the first day of the tournament have been declared null and void. This incident echoes the previous edition of the tournament, where 16 teams faced disqualification for the same reason. The stringent age verification process underscores the tournament’s commitment to fair play and providing a level playing field for all participating teams.
