It was not J&K only, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had denied participation at the National level to seven units across the country, including the formidable state of Haryana.

The denial of participation at the National level events was outcome of the repeated pleas of the parent body (AIFF) to the affiliated units to constitute State/UT bodies by holding long pending elections following the new framework of the AIFF, informed sources told SAN.

Other units which have been denied the participation at the National level events by AIFF were UTs of Ladakh, Andeman and Nicobar; Daman and Diu, Lakshdweep and states of Haryana and Tamil Nadu.

However, J&K managed its participation after the Government intervention post protests in Jammu. Two other UTs of Andaman and Nicobar and Daman and Diu also got one last chance. The UTs of Ladakh and Lakshdweep and states of Haryana and Tamil Nadu failed in their efforts to convince the AIFF.

Important to mention here that, Ladakh, with a provisional affiliation, could not hold the mandatory elections in the given time thus faced the action, the sources maintained.

The first phase of the national event is near completion with teams qualifying for the quarterfinals. The phase-2, with J&K in group-C, shall start from May nine. In their first outing, J&K shall take on Chandigarh on May 15 at Naryanpur Chattisgarh.

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