A section of the general members raised questions over alleged Deepak Sharma’s presence in the virtual meeting, called up by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey on Monday. 

The AIFF president had a virtual meeting with the Federation members. It is learned the purpose was to seek opinions from the members on the controversial incident that took place during the second division Indian Women’s League (IWL) in Goa where the AIFF executive committee member and Himachal Pradesh football association secretary Deepak Sharma was alleged to have made physical assault of two girl footballers. 

Police Inspector Nikhil Palekar told IANS that Sharma was produced before the court and has been granted unconditional bail. “They have submitted a complaint stating they were physically assaulted and misbehaved by the accused person. Acting on this complaint, an FIR was registered,” he said.

However, a group of other women football players from the team gathered at the Mapusa police station on Saturday night and said the allegations against Sharma were baseless. 

Despite the unconditional bell, Valanka Alemao, the chairperson of AIFF’s Women’s Committee stated, “We have suspended Mr. Deepak Sharma from all kinds of football activities in India until and unless the probe is complete, and once the probe is complete, the wrongdoer will be punished, whoever it is,” 

Still, a section of the members, present in Monday's virtual meeting raised questions over Deepak Sharma's presence. It is learned that the respective members commented, "How is Sharma present in the virtual meeting? The AIFF probe against him is not over yet. Even he has been suspended from all football activities until and unless the investigation is over. Then how could he be called up in the virtual meeting when the discussion was scheduled to be held on his act only?"

It is also learned that the members unanimously opined for his suspension from the AIFF. Some of the members also raised the point that the people who are holding portfolios in their clubs should not sit on any chair in the AIFF due to a conflict of interest.

The AIFF president has reportedly called up an emergency executive committee meeting on the issue on Tuesday.