Bengaluru: The issue of over-age players in age-group tournaments in India is as old as the competitions themselves. Recently, this problem surfaced again when two teams were disqualified from the ongoing Tier I Sub-junior Boys’ (under-13) National Football Championships. The disqualification occurred because several players from these teams were either found to be over the age limit or failed to pass the AIFF-mandated TW3 test, which is used to determine age eligibility.

Originally, the tournament, which kicked off on September 7 at the Bangalore Football Stadium, was designed to feature 16 teams divided into four groups of four. However, following the disqualification of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, Groups A and C were reduced to three teams each.

M Kumar, the general secretary of the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA), confirmed this development to DH, stating, “Yes, it is true.”

The disqualification not only disrupts the tournament structure but also highlights a persistent issue in Indian football – the use of over-aged players in youth competitions. The AIFF’s TW3 test is a critical measure to ensure fair play and age compliance, yet challenges in its implementation continue to affect the integrity of these tournaments.