Two female footballers from Khad FC in Himachal Pradesh have recently made serious accusations against Deepak Sharma, a member of the executive committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The players claim that Sharma assaulted them in a hotel room during the ongoing Indian Women’s League 2 in Goa. The alleged incident took place on Thursday, and the players reported it to the AIFF the following day. According to the footballers, Sharma became upset when he saw them in the kitchen preparing food, which led to him physically assaulting them. Sharma, who also holds positions as the general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Football Association and the deputy chairman of the AIFF’s competitions committee, was reportedly in an intoxicated state at the time of the incident.
One of the footballers, Palak Verma, recounted the incident to NDTV, stating that Sharma reprimanded them for cooking eggs and subsequently physically assaulted her when she tried to explain that they were out of food. Palak mentioned feeling traumatized by the incident, stating that she has had trouble sleeping and has been unable to focus on playing due to the mental distress caused by the assault. The footballers also claimed that after lodging a complaint with the Goa Football Association (GFA) and the AIFF, they faced pressure to withdraw their accusations.
In response to the complaint, GFA vice-president D’ visited the hotel, gathered information from the involved parties, and indicated that an official report would be submitted to the AIFF for further action. Additionally, Miss Valenka Alemao, head of the AIFF women’s football committee, met with the players privately to ensure their safety and express support for their pursuit of justice. The GFA has communicated the players’ complaint to the police to safeguard their well-being and facilitate a thorough investigation into the matter.
The allegations made by the Khad FC players have sparked concerns regarding player safety and misconduct within the Indian football community. The incident has shed light on the importance of addressing issues of harassment and assault in sports organizations and ensuring the well-being of athletes. As the investigation progresses, there is hope that appropriate measures will be taken to address the misconduct and provide support to the affected players.
