Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court has issued a notice to All India Football Federation (AIFF) after a petitioner sought a second skeletal maturity test for his minor son to ascertain if he can play in the federation’s sub-junior league. That is an under-14 tournament.The petitioner, Mayurkumar Patel, from Vavol near Gandhinagar, has filed a petition through advocate Nilay Patel seeking directions to AIFF to consider his representation made on May 26.The representation seeks a secondary or review TW3 (Tanner-Whitehouse 3) bone age test for his son. AIFF uses skeletal maturity testing to determine eligibility in youth football competition.The petition clarified, “The petitioner does not challenge the TW3 policy itself but seeks exercise of the re-testing mechanism already contemplated under the regulations.”The petitioner’s son is registered with Bengaluru Football Club and intends to participate in the under-14 tournament organised by AIFF. The petitioner stated that his son was born on March 2, 2013, and supplied documents including the birth certificate, passport, Aadhaar card, and school records.It was stated that his son underwent the AIFF’s TW3 skeletal maturity test on Dec 19, 2024, receiving a bone age rating of 12.84. It was contended that while this rating was within permissible limits in 2024, AIFF’s projection method for subsequent seasons would result in a projected skeletal maturity rating of approximately 14.54.That figure will exceed the eligibility threshold of 14.2 prescribed for participation in AIFF sub-junior league.The petitioner further contended that the projected rating is based on a mathematical calculation rather than a fresh medical assessment. He said that denying re-testing could compel his son to switch to the under-16 category, though he is chronologically eligible for an under-14 tournament.He also raised concerns about fairness and player safety, citing observations that some players in under-14 tournaments appeared physically more mature.Besides seeking another bone age test, the petitioner urged HC to direct AIFF to allow his son to participate in the 2026-27 season training and competitions in the under-14 category.After the preliminary hearing, Justice Nirzar Desai sought a reply from the federation and posted a further hearing on Aug 3.
