Sports ministry directs AIFF to take action against Deepak Sharma after women footballers allege assault

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur reacted to Twitter on Saturday amid growing worries over the alleged physical attack on female football players during the Indian Women's League (IWL) in Goa. This prompted increased scrutiny from the Ministry of Sports.

AIFF member Deepak Sharma has been accused of assaulting two women footballers while being under the influence of alcohol. The incident allegedly took place on March 28.

In a recent tweet, Sports minister Anurag Thakur informed that the AIFF was directed to take immediate action in the case and ensure the safety of women players.

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… https://t.co/1s2lwCz98l

— Anurag Thakur (मोदी का परिवार) (@ianuragthakur) March 30, 2024

Following the incident on Friday, the two female football players from Khad FC, a team in the India Women's League 2, filed a complaint, according to the Times of India. Deepak Sharma, the accused, is the general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Football Association and the deputy head of the AIFF competitions committee.

As per the latest development, AIFF has formed a three-member committee to probe this issue and has instructed the committee to submit a report within seven days. In the meantime, Mr Deepak Sharma, who was allegedly involved in the unfortunate incident, has been directed to step back and refrain from participating in all football-related activities until the conclusion of the committee’s process.

AIFF asks its executive committee member Deepak Sharma to refrain from football-related activities till conclusion of probe into his alleged physical assault of two women players in Goa. pic.twitter.com/itJ7watmJZ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 30, 2024