In a troubling incident that has shaken the Indian football community, two female players of Khad FC, a participating team in the Indian Women’s League 2, were reportedly subjected to physical assault by Deepak Sharma, an Executive Committee member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The alleged altercation occurred on the night of March 29th in Goa.
According to a detailed statement provided by the affected players, as well as corroborating witnesses, the incident transpired after the players had concluded their dinner and proceeded to boil eggs in their accommodation. It is asserted that upon learning of this activity, Deepak Sharma confronted the players in their room, subsequently engaging in physical assault and exhibiting inappropriate behavior towards them.
In response to this distressing event, law enforcement authorities at the Mapusa police station initiated legal proceedings, registering an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 354A (sexual harassment). Sharma is slated to appear before the court to address these charges on Sunday.
Ministry’s response
The gravity of the situation prompted swift action from the Union Minister for Sports, Anurag Thakur, who expressed deep concern via an online statement. The Ministry of Sports promptly directed the AIFF to take decisive measures to ensure the safety and security of all athletes. Specifically, the AIFF was instructed to pursue robust legal action and furnish the ministry with updates on the progress of the case. Upholding the safety and welfare of players emerged as the paramount priority for both the ministry and the AIFF.
Prior to Sharma’s arrest, the AIFF issued a statement outlining the formation of a three-member committee, headed by President Kalyan Chaubey, to investigate the matter thoroughly. It is noteworthy that the aggrieved players had previously lodged complaints with both the AIFF’s Competitions department and the tournament organizers, the Goa Football Association, following the alleged assault on March 29th.
Further complicating the situation, one of the players, aged 21, filed an additional police complaint at the Mapusa police station. In her account, she recounted a prior encounter with Sharma during a bus journey from Himachal Pradesh to Delhi on March 18-19. Allegations surfaced that Sharma, purportedly under the influence of alcohol, exhibited disruptive behavior and made inappropriate advances towards one of the players, who rebuffed his advances. This incident underscores a broader pattern of concerning behavior attributed to Sharma.
As the investigation unfolds and legal proceedings progress, the footballing community awaits with bated breath, hopeful for justice to be served and for stringent measures to be implemented to safeguard the integrity and well-being of all athletes.
This incident sparks a very necessary question on the safety of female players in our country. It raises a very critical question, whether a male should be allowed to travel and work with female players without a risk of instances like this happen again?
