The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has suspended Deepak Sharma, an executive committee member of the federation, from all football-related activities until further notice. This decision comes in the wake of allegations of physical assault against Sharma.
AIFF bans Deepak Sharma
Sharma, who is also the general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Football Association, was accused of physically assaulting two women footballers of Khad FC in an inebriated state. The incident reportedly occurred during their stay in Goa for the ongoing Indian Women’s League 2.
The players, representing Himachal Pradesh-based Khad FC in the second division of the Indian Women’s Football League (IWL), claimed that Sharma, who owns the club, entered their room and physically assaulted them on March 28. Sharma was arrested following an FIR lodged by the girls and was later released on bail by the Mapusa Police on March 31.
The AIFF Executive Committee, after an emergency meeting on April 2, 2024, dissolved the ad-hoc committee it had formed to investigate the incident and referred the matter to an independent Disciplinary Committee. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey stated, “The AIFF is determined to promote women’s football in a safe and enabling environment and will take all necessary steps to ensure this.”
The federation has taken steps to ensure the safe return of the complainants to their hometowns and has offered to provide any support that might be necessary. The case has now been referred to the Disciplinary Committee and will be taken up emergently.
This incident has cast a shadow over the AIFF’s developmental efforts in women’s football. However, the federation remains committed to promoting women’s football in a safe and enabling environment. The AIFF has made significant strides in expanding women’s football in India, with the IWL being played on a home-and-away basis for the first time this season.
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