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?”
