The key obstruction to Bengal girls’ promotion to the knock-out stage is ‘injustice’

Bengal girls have earned six points with thumping wins against Mizoram 6-0 and against Bihar by 5-2 on Sunday in Bhubaneswar.

After Bengal's under-17 boys were the victim of the 'politics' in the recently-held under-17 national championship and forced to exit the group league, now it is Bengal's under-17 girls' turn. 

Manipur playing over-aged boys forced Bengal to depart from the group league in the under-17 national championship held in Berhampur. 

This time, Bengal's under-17 girls' team, after being victim of justice can be forced to exit the group league stage despite the fact they have earned six points already with thumping wins against Mizoram 6-0 and against Bihar by 5-2 on Sunday in Bhubaneswar. 

According to the format, only one team from the group will qualify for the knock-out stage. Jharkhand is officially on the top of the group league table with nine points. They also fielded a couple of over-aged footballers against Bengal and won the match 6-2. 

Bengal team lodged an official protest to the match-commissioner alleging Jharkhand for having field over-aged footballers, especially the striker who scored a goal against Bengal. 

More importantly, following a protest from the Bengal team and the IFA, Jharkhand's alleged footballers had to undergo MRI tests at Bhubaneswar AMRI hospital and the report has clearly stated that the age of those alleged footballers were 17 to 19 years which was not legal according to AIFF rules. Even Bengal team management was denied the report by the tournament's match-commissioner. Rather Bengal team was informed that their protest was not granted!

IFA vice-president Saurav Paul, when asked about the issue commented, “The IFA secretary Anirban Dutta and myself have been fighting for justice. We have sent e-mails, asking the AIFF to deduct three points from Jharkhand so that Bengal can qualify for the knock-out stage with nine points. We deserve it when the report is clearly saying that the two alleged footballers' age is not below 16."

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