Jamshedpur, Feb. 20: The local soccer league will not have its star players this season, thanks to the Jamshedpur Sporting Association (JSA).

The JSA, for the first time, has suspended 12 prominent footballers as they had skipped the selection trial here for the all-India soccer tournament, held in Chennai in January. The footballers cannot take part in the forthcoming local leagues. A total of 35 probables had been invited for the trials.

The suspended footballers will also have to sit out of other tournaments in which the JSA participates throughout the year.

The players on the suspension list are Chandra Mohan Soren, Naresh Munda, Ram Rai and Jiten Hembrom, Darmu Soy, Joshilal Murmu, Bishu Hansda and Ram Rai, Hopna Soren, Lal Mohan Hansda, Ambey Mukhi and Bikram Mardi.

Sources said that absence of footballers from the selection trials forced the JSA to form a weak outfit for the Chennai tourney which led to poor performance of the team. The suspended footballers are Chandra Mohan Soren, Naresh Munda, Ram Rai and Jiten Hembrom (from Tata Steel), Darmu Soy, Joshilal Murmu and Bishu Hansda (from Tinplate), Ram Rai (Jamshedpur Football Academy), Hopna Soren and Lal Mohan Hansda (Tata Motors), Ambey Mukhi (Aruna Samity) and Bikram Mardi (Gram Vikas Kendra). The suspended players represent these clubs in the local football league conducted by the JSA. These clubs are affiliated units of the JSA.

JSA secretary Harbhajan Singh said, ?We had to draw a line. The JSA had served show cause to the players but they did not give a reply. There was no other way but to suspend them from taking part in the local league this season.?

Singh, who is also the head of Tata Steel sports department, said disciplinary action would prevent other footballers from taking things lightly.