Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has taken decisive action against Deepak Sharma, an executive committee member, following allegations of assault on women footballers during the Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2 in Goa. The AIFF's Emergency Committee met on Tuesday, to address the issue, subsequently scheduling an urgent Executive Committee meeting.
During the meeting, Sharma was briefly heard before the decision was made to dissolve the Ad Hoc Committee chaired by Pinky Bompal Magar and refer the matter to the AIFF Disciplinary Committee. As a result, Sharma has been suspended from all football-related activities until further notice.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey reaffirmed the organization's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for women's football. The incident prompted swift action, with the case referred to the Disciplinary Committee for urgent resolution. Additionally, the AIFF facilitated the safe return of the complainants to their hometowns and outlined plans for expanding and enhancing the IWL.
Chaubey highlighted the positive impact of initiatives like the Khelo India Girls' League, which has seen widespread participation across the country. He also noted the growing number of registered women players and recent successes in international competitions, indicating promising developments in Indian women's football.
Earlier, Deepak Sharma was granted bail by Goa Police on Sunday after being accused of assaulting two players on March 28. He was released upon posting a bond of 40,000 rupees, as the charges against him were bailable offences. Following a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the victims, Sharma was arrested under sections 354A (sexual harassment), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 341 (wrongful restraint) but obtained bail with legal representation the next day.
