AIFF suspends official accused of assaulting female players in Goa

New Delhi, April 2, (IANS) – The All-India Football Federation (AIFF) has taken action against Deepak Sharma, an administrator who allegedly assaulted two female footballers during the Indian Women’s League 2 in Goa. Sharma has been suspended from all football-related activities until further notice.

The AIFF Executive Committee decided to dissolve the ad-hoc committee set up to probe this matter and referred it to the disciplinary committee. This action was taken after the Sports Ministry intervened and requested steps to ensure the safety of female players.

The Emergency Committee of the AIFF, consisting of the President, Vice President, and Treasurer, convened to discuss the incident in Goa and complaints against Deepak Sharma. A meeting with representatives of AIFF Member Associations was held to gather opinions before an emergency Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday.

During the meeting with Member Association representatives, opinions were shared, and it was decided to convene an emergency Executive Committee meeting to determine the next steps. The Executive Committee met on Tuesday and resolved to dissolve the Ad Hoc Committee and refer the matter to the Disciplinary Committee.

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey emphasized the organization’s commitment to women’s football safety and development. Despite the incident in Goa, he highlighted the positive strides in women’s football, including the recent success of the India Senior Women’s Team in the Turkish Women’s Cup.

Chaubey praised the expansion of the IWL and the increasing number of women footballers in India. With support from the Ministry of Sports, the AIFF has seen significant growth in women’s football participation across various age groups.