Arsene Wenger-Launched AIFF Academy Busted For Age Fraud In U18 League - Report

Last Updated:March 19, 2026, 20:39 IST

AIFF’s own FIFA-backed academy has been disqualified for age fraud, exposing deep cracks in Indian football’s system and raising serious questions about fairness and governance.

Indian football’s descent into madness almost seems never-ending. And of course, it is none other than the AIFF that continues to steer this sinking ship.

In what can only be described as peak irony, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has found itself at the center of yet another controversy — this time involving its own elite academy.

As per a report from News9, the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy, launched in Bhubaneswar in 2023 by Arsene Wenger, has been disqualified from the U-18 Elite Youth League after being found guilty of age manipulation.

Yes, the very system designed to clean up youth football has been caught bending the rules.

The TW3 Test And How It Backfired

To regulate age-group football, the AIFF uses the TW3 test:  a bone density scan meant to determine a player’s biological age.

The rule is simple:

• Players above a bone age of 16.2 fail the U-16 category
• Only five such players are allowed in a U-18 squad

The aim of it, as the AIFF itself stated, was to “discourage academies from cheating."

Well… that clearly didn’t age well.

The Violations

A complaint by Minerva Punjab Academy triggered the investigation, and the findings were shocking.

Out of 27 players in the AIFF Academy squad:

• 11 players had bone age above 16.2
• 6 players hadn’t even undergone the TW3 test
• Only 10 players were fully compliant

That’s potentially 17 ineligible players — far beyond the permitted limit of 5.

The AIFF’s defense? Those players weren’t part of the academy in the previous season.

Verdict and Fallout

The AIFF’s disciplinary committee, led by Vineet Saran, ruled that the violations were clear and that no exemptions applied.

The consequences are severe:

• The academy is barred from fielding ineligible players for the rest of the season
• All matches played so far will be treated as forfeits
• AIFF must act within three days of the ruling

A System Failing Itself

This isn’t just about one academy. It’s about credibility.

When the governing body itself is found violating its own anti-cheating framework, questions go far beyond a single tournament.

Because if the watchdog is breaking the rules, who’s left to enforce them?

Once again, Indian football finds itself asking the same question — how much lower can we go?

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