Five instances of age fraud in Indian Football

Indian football players and fans have had some low moments over the years due to age fraud.

Age fraud remains one of the most persistent and damaging issues in Indian football, undermining youth development and fair competition across grassroots and elite levels. From international tours to national youth leagues, several high-profile cases have exposed the scale of the problem and the urgent need for stronger age-verification measures.

The following five cases illustrate how age fraud affects Indian football from grassroots school competitions to the pinnacle of Indian football i.e. the Indian Super League (ISL). While efforts to combat the practice, including bone age tests and stricter documentation protocols, are beginning to take hold, but persistent incidents reveal that systemic change and vigilance are still needed.

Below are the five instances of age fraud in Indian football that made headlines in recent years:

5. East Bengal FC penalised in AIFF U-17 Youth League

One of Kolkata’s oldest and famous clubs, East Bengal FC, faced penalties in the AIFF U-17 Youth League after being accused of fielding over-age players. The controversy led to fines and point deductions, and highlighted issues with multiple registrations and inaccurate documentation within the federation’s systems.

The allegations were not only for the overage of the players but also for the use of fake names. Subsequently, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has suspended Aniket Kaur of East Bengal FC’s under-17 team.

4. 12 players failing TW3 test within Odisha’s Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy Squad

Age fraud was again spotlighted at the Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy, a national junior football championship. 12 players from Odisha’s team were found ineligible after failing the TW3 skeletal maturity assessment using the BoneXpert device made by Danish firm Visiana.

TW3 tests, which estimate biological age via bone development, are increasingly used in India to counter age cheating. The revelations raised concerns about eligibility and fairness in one of the country’s key youth competitions and raised alarms about AIFF’s lack of attention to rooting out these issues in Indian football.

3. 87 players disqualified in Subroto Cup U-14 tournament

In October 2023, at the U-14 Subroto Cup tournament, one of India’s premier school-level football tournaments, a staggering 87 of the total 126 players failed the age determination tests conducted ahead of the competition. This high failure rate led to the disqualification of 15 teams in the age group.

The shocking development came to light after the Skeletal Age Examination Test was conducted as per regulations of the tournament and guidelines given by the AIFF. The incident underscores how widespread age fraud can be at foundational levels of the sport, where record-keeping and verification are often weakest in Indian Football.

2. ISL’s “youngest scorer” Gourav Mukhi’s age controversy

Gourav Mukhi burst into the limelight during the 2018–19 Indian Super League season as a 16-year-old, when he scored for Jamshedpur FC in a 2-2 draw against Bengaluru FC. At the time, Mukhi was promoted as the youngest goalscorer in league history.

However, Mukhi had previously admitted to age fraud during the 2015 U-15 national championship, where he and several teammates were found to have submitted forged birth certificates and were overage. Following the revelation, the former Jamshedpur FC was suspended by the AIFF for six months after the age discrepancy emerged, and his registration was revoked before he was later re-registered with correct documentation.

1. Controversy involving India U-15 captain Eric Lalsangzuala

The Indian under-15 football team visited Italy for an “exposure tour” back in April 2019, with Eric Lalsangzuala captaining the India under-15 team in a match against Slovenia. The player, however, was embroiled in major problems after it emerged that he was approximately 18 months older than the age category allowed.

Records in the All India Football Federation’s central registration system showed a birth date that made him ineligible for the U-15 competition. Despite the controversy, Lalsangzuala later signed with Bengaluru FC, highlighting how age fraud scandals can still see players progress into professional ranks.

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