PANJIM: The Goa Football Development Council Member Secretary Aleixo da Costa lashed out at the All India Football Federation over the conduct of the ongoing AIFF U-15 Youth League after Churchill Brothers-GFDC were beaten 0-5 by Minerva Academy, on Wednesday.
Aleixo da Costa claimed that his side (Churchill Brothers –GFDC) were deprived by unfair practice by Minerva Punjab as the visitors fielded over-aged players in the playing eleven. “The entire squad which played today against us appears to be over 18 or 20 years of age. And I was shocked to see the AIFF officials allowing this to happen,” lamented Aleixo.
“The opposition side had some players who attended trials for the U-17 World Cup squad many years back. It was clearly visible that the players were beyond the age limit,” expressed Aleixo.
The GFDC member secretary added they would ask the club (Churchill Brothers-GFDC) to lodge a formal complaint against the same. Fielding over-age players at the National events is not new to this sport.
Recently, Bengaluru FC were banned from AIFF U-13 league after AIFF found the team guilty of fielding over-aged players, while Ozone FC and Jammu United were also disqualified for the same act in the AIFF U-15 Youth League.
Aleixo further slammed the AIFF for ‘not being serious’ in conducting the AIFF age-group leagues, which he claimed to have been affecting the developments of the young football talents. “AIFF is destroying Indian Football and is not serious in curtailing and eliminating these factors (identifying over-age players). The federation should use the modern technology to do the scans which can determine the exact age of the players,” he said.
Aleixo further complained against the AIFF for scheduling back-to-back matches, which gives less recovery time for the players.
“The problem is that the matches are scheduled every alternative day and moreover the young players have to play under the scorching heat. Not even senior teams play in such conditions,” he stressed.
When contacted Churchill Brothers FC Administrative Manager Macario Rodrigues, stated that the club has lodged a formal complaint to AIFF against Minerva Punjab for fielding over-age players.
