Goa Police arrested All India Football Federation executive committee member Deepak Sharma on Saturday for physically assaulting two female footballers during Indian Women’s League-2 after the official complaint. Sharma was asked to refrain from all football-related activities till the conclusion of the probe in the case.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandesh Chodankar told PTI, “AIFF executive committee member Deepak Sharma was called for questioning during the day after receiving a formal complaint. He was arrested by Mapusa police under various sections, including causing hurt and using force against women, among others,”
Mapusa police station inspector Shitakant Naik stated that Sharma will be in custody for the night and will be brought to court on Sunday for remand. The matter received a strong response from the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur, who ordered AIFF to take strict legal action against the accused personnel.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur said, “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,”
The matter came to light after two female footballers from the India Women’s League 2 club Khad FC complained against Sharma on Friday. Deepak Sharma is the Himachal Pradesh Football Association’s general secretary and deputy chairman of AIFF’s competitions committee.
The female footballers faced assault after they went to their hotel rooms to boil eggs. According to reports, Sharma went into their rooms and slapped them.
The footballers alleged that Deepak Sharma used to remain in “an inebriated state” and carried alcohol while going with women footballers. Moreover, he drank alcohol in front of female footballers.
