CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced Thursday that three former junior varsity students will not play in Saturday's high school state 4AA championship game between Independence and New Bern in Winston-Salem.

All three students had given school officials a fake water bill and a fake power bill, and when school officials went to check, those students weren’t living at those addresses.

In addition to declaring the three athletes ineligible, CMS also removed two former junior varsity football players from the team.

Traditionally, CMS schools promote some junior varsity players to the varsity team for playoff games. The former junior varsity football players were declared ineligible or removed from the team following an internal investigation.

District officials reported the violations to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) this afternoon. The association said the violations will not jeopardize the team's record or playoff status.

CMS coaches, athletic directors and principals have been reviewing the eligibility status of student-athletes involved in fall sports playoffs and the winter sports season.

The additional review was launched Nov. 15, after the discovery of an ineligible player at South Mecklenburg High School knocked the team out of the state football playoffs and resulted in the forfeiture of the team's entire season.

In all, the district has determined that seven student-athletes (five football players, one basketball player and one swimmer) at four high schools played their respective sports while ineligible. All but one involved residency issues.

In addition to declaring seven players ineligible, the district has also removed three players from the Independence football team.

Earlier this week, CMS suspended three employees at West Charlotte High School. The employees are suspended with pay pending the outcome of a personnel investigation.