JAMMU DEC 16: The selection process for the Jammu and Kashmir football team for the Santosh Trophy has come under sharp scrutiny, with allegations that bureaucratic interference has resulted in the exclusion of several deserving players from the Jammu region.
Sources in the sports fraternity said that between five and seven talented footballers from Jammu, who were considered strong contenders based on performance, were dropped from the final squad. The exclusions have reportedly triggered widespread discontent among players, coaches and football administrators in the region.
According to the sources, senior officials within the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council are alleged to have exercised overriding control over the selection process, sidelining the recommendations of qualified coaches and football professionals with years of experience in managing clubs and training players. It is alleged that individuals with limited or no technical understanding of the game were entrusted with key decision-making roles.
Traditionally, the selection of players for major tournaments such as the Santosh Trophy was carried out through balanced selection committees comprising 50-50 representatives from both the Jammu and Kashmir regions. However, sources claim that this established practice was not followed on this occasion, for reasons yet to be officially clarified by the Sports Council or the Football Association.
Adding to the controversy is the prolonged dysfunction of the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association. The association has reportedly remained defunct for the past five years, with no elections conducted for nearly a decade. Once regarded as one of the oldest football associations in the region, established over five decades ago, it currently has little to no role in the administration or development of the sport, sources said.
Concerns have also been raised over team management arrangements, with allegations that a lower-rank contractual Rehbar-e-Khel employee was appointed as the manager of the J&K Santosh Trophy team, a decision that has drawn criticism from within football circles and they demanded a full-fledged probe into the matter.
Amid growing criticism and political pressure, Jammu and Kashmir Sports Minister Satish Sharma on Monday assured a time-bound and impartial inquiry into the selection process. His assurance came a day after the BJP alleged discrimination against players from the Jammu region and demanded his resignation over the issue.
The controversy has once again highlighted concerns over transparency, governance and regional balance in sports administration in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in football, which continues to struggle due to administrative uncertainty and lack of institutional leadership.
