ISL 2018-19: Jamshedpur FC's Gourav Mukhi Handed Six-Month Ban for Age Fraud

The All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Disciplinary Committee has handed Jamshedpur FC forward Gourav Mukhi a six-month ban after it found him guilty of fudging age records.

Mukhi was celebrated as the 'youngest goalscorer' of the Indian Super League (ISL) at 16 when he came off the bench to score Jamshedpur FC's first goal against Bengaluru FC on October 7 in the 2-2 draw.

ALSO READ: How old is '16-year-old' Gourav Mukhi?

However, there were serious doubts whether he was actually 16 as the Jharkhand native was found to be an overaged player during the Sub-Junior National Football Championship in 2015. If Mukhi was over the age of 14 in 2015, there was no way that he could be 16 three years later in 2018.

The AIFF DC discovered exactly that when they called Mukhi for a hearing at the Football House in Dwarka, Delhi, on Saturday, November 24.

Finally, on Sunday, November 25, the day that Jamshedpur FC were slated to take on Chennaiyin FC at home, the AIFF announced that the player was suspended for six months.

Apart from the suspension, Mukhi's registration at the AIFF's Central Registration System has been expelled. This means that Mukhi has to register himself with the AIFF again by submitting his actual age document. 

Mukhi cannot play in the ISL or the Super Cup anymore this season.

How old is Gourav Mukhi then?

Well, suppose he was 15 during the Sub-Junior National Football Championship in 2015, he could be an adult now.

This guess is backed up well by a previous AIFF statement, which stated that Mukhi had submitted an original age document which stated that he was born on 4 May 1999. Going by that document, he's 19 now.

No punishment for Jamshedpur?

It is, however, unclear if Jamshedpur FC will be punished. As per the code, a club is also held liable for the infringement committed by one of its players. In such a case, an expulsion from a competition and/or a transfer ban shall be pronounced in addition to a fine for the club concerned.

In case you are wondering who is actually the youngest goal-scorer of the ISL, find out here.