“The controversy surrounding Santosh Trophy selections is not an isolated lapse but a symptom of systemic failure in J&K’s football governance. When institutions meant to nurture talent instead narrow opportunities, the damage extends far beyond one tournament. It is absurd to claim that no deserving talent exists in Jammu, a district that alone had over 85 registered clubs. If selectors say they found no players there, one must ask—have they even watched a district-level match?
Without structural reform, transparent selection processes, and genuine grassroots engagement, football in the Union Territory will continue to lose its most valuable asset—credibility. ”
By Yash Khajuria
The selection of the Jammu and Kashmir football team for the prestigious Santosh Trophy has once again opened a Pandora’s box, reviving long-simmering allegations of regional discrimination between Jammu and Kashmir. Accusations that merit has taken a back seat while “blue-eyed” individuals were favoured by certain officials of the J&K Sports Council have cast a long shadow over the credibility of the selection process.
The controversy has struck a raw nerve in the Union Territory, where sporting decisions often mirror deeper political and regional fault lines. While allegations of bias are grave, critics point to the stark under-representation of players from the Jammu region as prima facie evidence that cannot be brushed aside. Official assertions of merit-based selection, they argue, ring hollow when weighed against the conduct, transparency, and overall handling of the selection process by the Sports Council.
Former players, club officials, and even political leaders from Jammu have voiced strong objections, alleging that the selection committee was dominated—if not entirely comprised—of members from the Kashmir region, raising serious questions about impartiality. They further claim that the coaching camps and final trials were either curtailed or conducted in a manner that systematically disadvantaged Jammu-based players.
According to several sources, at least six to seven deserving footballers from Jammu were dropped without any transparent justification, despite putting up impressive performances during the initial trials. The fallout was swift: protests erupted across Jammu, with social organisations and members of the sporting fraternity accusing the J&K Sports Council of perpetuating a long-standing pattern of neglect towards the region.
Veterans of the game recall a different era, when the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) oversaw footballing activities across the state. The JKFA conducted tournaments at various levels, organised district competitions-cum-selection trials, and ensured a relatively balanced team composition. Typically, Jammu accounted for 44–55 per cent of the squad, with eight to eleven players earning selection purely on merit after rigorous screening by JKFA-appointed panels.
Speaking to The Earth News, a former JKFA member, requesting anonymity, described the present controversy as merely “the tip of the iceberg.” He alleged that since the dissolution of the JKFA in 2021, the State Sports Council, in collusion with a few Kashmir-based clubs, has been calling the shots in J&K football.
He lamented that the JKFA was expected to be reconstituted through a fair and transparent electoral process, as it was traditionally the association’s domain to conduct district-level talent hunts and grassroots tournaments. “It is bizarre to suggest that no deserving talent exists in the entire Jammu region,” he said, pointing out that Jammu district alone had over 85 registered football clubs as of 2021. “If selectors claim they couldn’t find a single player from these clubs, they are making a mockery of themselves. One must ask—have they even watched a district-level match, let alone organised junior, senior, or super-division tournaments in Jammu?”
He further questioned the role of the Sports Council in promoting football, asking whether it was even making a half-hearted attempt to discharge its responsibilities. “The sorry state of affairs is evident from the fact that not a single state-level football championship has been organised since 2021,” he said, accusing both the UT Administration and the Sports Council of apathy.
Echoing similar concerns, a Jammu-based member of a prominent football club told The Earth News that J&K Bank remains the principal sponsor of football in the Union Territory and also inducts outstanding sportspersons. He termed the alleged all-Kashmir selection for a tournament of Santosh Trophy’s stature as unprecedented and deserving of a thorough probe. He further alleged that the move appeared to be an attempt by officials “at the helm” to induct their favoured candidates into the state team, thereby enabling them to claim participation certificates and later exploit the benefits of SRO 349.
SRO 349, formally known as the J&K (Appointment of Outstanding Sports Persons) Rules, 1998, provides for direct government employment to accomplished sportspersons. While intended to reward genuine excellence, critics argue that it has, at times, been misused to confer undue benefits.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council has categorically rejected allegations of bias, dismissing them as misleading. Quoted by Kashmir-based media outlets, a senior council official maintained that the selection process was strictly merit-driven and spanned over one-and-a-half months. According to the official, divisional-level trials were held simultaneously in Jammu and Kashmir from November 15 to 17, followed by final selections by a panel comprising members from both regions.
The council further stated that eight players from Jammu were initially selected for the coaching camp, and that heightened competition this year was due to the availability of professional players amid the absence of an I-League season. Ultimately, one Jammu-based player made the final cut, while three others were placed on standby. The council also noted that some Jammu players competing outside the Union Territory failed to attend the trials.
Amid growing protests, Sports Minister Satish Sharma on Monday ordered a time-bound and impartial inquiry into the matter. Taking cognisance of media reports, he assured that any deviation from the merit-based policy would invite strict and punitive action.
Yet, a lingering question remains unanswered: even if the probe substantiates claims of bias, how will it compensate for the lost opportunity and shattered morale of talented footballers from Jammu? For many young players, such setbacks risk extinguishing passion and discouraging continued pursuit of the sport.
Until the inquiry’s findings are made public, the episode threatens to further erode trust in sports administration and deepen regional alienation. For a Union Territory striving for inclusive development, equitable and visibly fair opportunities in sports could serve as a bridge across divides. The outcome of the probe will ultimately decide whether this controversy represents a systematic erasure of Jammu from J&K’s football landscape—or simply the unforgiving nature of competitive selection.
