Religious Controversy Erupts Over Jammu & Kashmir Football Team Selection; Investigation Ordered

Jammu: The selection of the Jammu & Kashmir football team for the Santosh Trophy 2025 has sparked a controversy over the religion of the players. Allegations of bias in the selection process, particularly favoring players from the Kashmir region over Jammu, have led to protests within the state.

The Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council had finalized the team for the national championship after a series of matches. However, concerns about fairness in the selection process quickly emerged, prompting the government to constitute a committee to investigate the matter. The panel has been instructed to submit its report within a week.

Government Responds Amid Rising Tensions

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has strongly defended the selection process, emphasizing that player selection was based solely on merit. He warned against politicizing sports and questioned why political considerations are dragged into matters involving students and athletes.

Meanwhile, the state Sports Minister Satish Sharma stressed that those attempting to politicize the selection would face strict action. He clarified that the directive from the Chief Minister was to ensure meritocracy and highlighted that football in Jammu lags behind Kashmir in terms of culture and performance, which explains why more players from Kashmir were selected.

Sharma also drew parallels with other sports, stating, “If 10 out of 11 hockey players belong to a particular community, would anyone raise an issue? Football is performing well in Kashmir, and we need to promote it in Jammu without bringing politics into the game.”

The controversy comes at a delicate time, as Jammu & Kashmir has already witnessed protests against Muslim students’ admissions to the Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College, reflecting wider tensions over religious and regional representation.

The committee’s findings in the football selection case are now eagerly awaited, as the government seeks to ensure transparency, fairness, and the continued focus on sports development in the state.