Sport is a powerful tool to bring different communities and people together. Recently, Cricket Australia toured Sri Lanka and brought a business of $2.5 million to the crisis-hit country exemplifying sports’ potential for positive change.
However, the same sport is stained by a few bad apples that shred the integrity of the sport. In a recent incident, something akin to this happened with the Indian under-17 women’s football team.
A coach touring with the Indian under-17 women’s football team has been suspended and sent back to India from Norway for alleged misconduct. Reportedly the coach had a “misconduct” with a minor player from the Indian under-17 Women’s team in the ongoing training tour of Europe.
The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has informed about the issue to the Sports Authority of India (SAI). CoA also released a statement that read, “An event of misconduct has been reported in the U-17 women’s team, currently on an exposure tour to Europe. The AIFF follows a zero-tolerance policy on indiscipline. As an initial action, the Federation has provisionally suspended the individual pending further investigation.”
The AIFF has asked the concerned individual to stop all contact with the team, return to India immediately, and be physically present for further investigations upon his arrival,” the statement added.
The name of the coach who was involved in the misconduct was not revealed earlier. Sources report that it was head coach Thomas Dennerby who witnessed this ‘incident’ and informed the All-India Football Federation (AIFF). Later it was reported that the suspended coach is Alex Ambrose who is currently working as an assistant coach for the Indian Under-17 Women’s football team.
After Dennerby sent a report from Europe, the CoA acted immediately and informed the SAI. The culprit was called back without wasting any time. Ambrose is also set to face criminal charges since the girl is a minor,” the source said.
Many such cases of sexual harassment are making the news in recent times. A female cyclist recently accused a national coach of sexual advancements while training in Slovenia. Similarly, a female sailor accused her coach of inappropriate behaviour during an exposure trip abroad.
