The All India Football Federation (AIFF) barred East Bengal FC and Muthoot FA from participating in the 2023-24 U-17 Youth League for age-fudging on Friday. The suspension resulted after allegations from Mohun Bagan FC on December 16, when the latter lost the match by 0-4.

Suspension of East Bengal FC and Muthoot FA

After the match on Dec 16, Bagan lodged a complaint with the AIFF claiming to have evidence of EB registering a player who had turned out for them in the U-13 League in 2017-18. Bagan accused the player of having multiple registrations in the AIFF’s Central Registration System and EB of using forged documents to re-register the player in the CRS to play in the U-17 Youth League.

They wrote to the AIFF informing them that a new profile in the CRS had been created by East Bengal using purportedly forged documents.

Upon investigation, the AIFF found out that the player had two names registered in the CRS, an online electronic information data bank mandatory for players and clubs to comply with to participate in organised football.

The player was part of East Bengal’s tournament opener against Mohammedan SC on December 14, which they won 3-2 and was an unused substitute in the Bagan game. He was pulled out of the team following complaints.

After this verdict, Bagan and United SC (20 points) would go through to the knockout rounds of the tournament from the Eastern zone.

Earlier this year, they were expected to get a heavy fine and a few points deduction by the AIFF for the age fraud. The final decision and the names of the overaged players are yet to be released.

On the other hand, Muthoot Football Academy, from group E, has been banned as they had 6 overage players. With this, second-placed Kerala Blasters will directly qualify for the final stage.

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