AIFF member Deepak Sharma arrested for assaulting women players: What we know so far

All India Football Federation (AIFF) executive committee member Deepak Sharma was arrested by Goa Police on Saturday for allegedly physically assaulting two women players.

Players of Khad FC, a club based in Himachal Pradesh, had accused Sharma, the owner, of physically assaulting them and barging into their room without invitation. Khad FC competes in the Indian Women’s Football (IWL) League second division. The women players reportedly said the incident happened on the night of 28 March.

A group of players, however, have also claimed Sharma was innocent.

What is Deepak Sharma accused of?

Sharma, the secretary-general of the Himachal Pradesh Football Association, is accused of assaulting two players in a drunken state. The players said they were ‘scared for their lives.’

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As per Sportstar, the complaint says, “As the dinner was over, we were boiling eggs as we didn’t get dinner. Mr. Deepak Sharma got offended and stormed into our room and slapped me (Palak) and Ritika and assaulted us physically. From the first day, he used to be in an inebriated (drunken) state.”

Besides being owner of Khad FC, an AIFF member, secretary general of Himachal Football Association, Sharma is also the deputy chairperson of the competition committee and the chairperson of the federation’s infrastructure committee.

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How have AIFF reacted?

AIFF had asked Deepak Sharma to refrain from any football-related activities till the probe into the assault case is concluded. The AIFF also formed a three-member committee to investigate the incidents.

Meanwhile, in a post on X, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur wrote, “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. All India Football Federation (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.”

What have the Goa police said?

“AIFF executive committee member Deepak Sharma was called for questioning during the day after a formal complaint was received. He was arrested by Mapusa police under various sections, including causing hurt, and using force against women, among others,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandesh Chodankar told news agency PTI on 30 March.

“He will remain in custody for the night and will be produced in court on Sunday for remand,” said Mapusa police station inspector Shitakant Naik.

Goa Football Association (GFA) president Caetano Fernandes told PTI the organisation helped the victims file the complaint at Mapusa police station.

What have other squad members said?

When Sharma was taken out for medical examination by Mapusa police, a group of women players were seen crying and stopped media from video recording him, reports PTI. They claimed to have been associated with Sharma for the last ten years but never saw him misbehave.

The group claimed the allegations were raised by the team members accompanying them for the first time.

“On Friday, one of the complainants moved out of the apartment at 11.30 pm to fetch something. Sharma was upset over it and questioned why she went out late at night in an unknown city. She got upset over it and started creating drama,” said one of the players while talking to media outside Mapusa police station. She added Sharma never misbehaved with the girls.