Sports Ministry Swings Into Action After Women Footballers Allege Assault

New Delhi: Two female footballers from Khad FC, a club based in Himachal Pradesh, have accused Deepak Sharma, a member of the executive committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the governing body for football in India of assaulting them. The players claim that Sharma assaulted them in a hotel room during the ongoing Indian Women's League 2 in Goa. A complaint has been filed with the AIFF regarding the alleged incident.

The footballers stated that Sharma was in an inebriated state at the time of the incident. Moreover, he had been drinking in their presence while they were travelling from Himachal Pradesh to Goa. Following a complaint filed by the Goa Football Association, Deepak Sharma has been summoned for interrogation at the Mapusa police station. As of now, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has not issued any official response regarding the matter.

Narrating the ordeal, Palak Verma, one of the footballers said that she had not been able to sleep after the incident.  “That evening, I was injured and had brought eggs to my room. Around 10:30-11 pm, while I was in the kitchen with another girl, preparing eggs, sir called us to his room. The other girl went in first and was questioned about our activities. She informed him that we were preparing eggs. Sir scolded her and then called me in. He rudely questioned why I was preparing eggs and insinuated if I was 'special'. I explained that we were out of food, hence the need to prepare eggs in the room. 

“He was drunk at the time. He ordered me to discard the eggs. I began to cry and returned to my room, slamming the door. Upon hearing this, sir rushed to the room and forcefully entered without knocking. He physically assaulted me until my roommate intervened and he left. Following this, his wife, who also serves as the club manager, Nandita, confronted us and pressured us, criticizing our morals. We filed a complaint with the Goa Football Association (GFA) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). They conducted an investigation and instructed Sharma to provide a written assurance of non-harm towards us. I am 21 years old. We are currently facing pressure to retract our complaint”, Verma told a leading portal. 

Sports Ministry Takes Cognisance

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur also asked the AIFF to take "quick" and "strong legal action" against the official. Taking a serious note of the incident, Thakur said that the safety and security of players are of utmost priority for the sports ministry.

"The Ministry of Sports has taken a serious note of an alleged physical assault upon women footballers by an official during the ongoing Indian Women's League in Goa," he tweeted.

"AIFF has been directed to take quick action and ensure the safety and security of our footballers. The ministry has further directed AIFF to take strong legal action and inform the ministry about actions taken. The safety and security of players are our utmost priority."   

AIFF Swings Into Action

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) asked its executive committee member Deepak Sharma to refrain from game-related activities till the conclusion of a probe by a panel. 

"The AIFF was formally notified by players from Khad FC, participating in the IWL 2 in Goa, of certain incidents of alleged physical assault and harassment on them on March 29," the AIFF said in a release after an emergent meeting of its senior members.

“The AIFF president has instructed the committee to submit a report within seven days. In the meantime, Mr Deepak Sharma, who was allegedly involved in the unfortunate incident, has been directed to step back and refrain from participating in all football-related activities until the conclusion of the committee's process. The AIFF is also working with the players involved to ensure their safe passage home. The committee comprises executive committee member Pinky Bompal Magar, AIFF's Safety and Child Safeguarding Officer Rita Jairath and Vijay Bali.”