The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is embroiled in yet another controversy, this time involving allegations of harassment against a male employee by a female colleague. The woman has lodged a “verbal” complaint but has not yet pressed formal charges.
The AIFF’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) convened on Tuesday to discuss the matter. The woman requested time before proceeding further with her complaint. “She made a verbal complaint and despite not doing it in writing and not pressing for charges, the ICC escalated the matter and the committee met to discuss the issue. She has sought time to decide on whether to press charges or not,” an AIFF source told PTI.
The ICC is expected to submit a report on the matter within a few days. The AIFF has been plagued by controversies lately, including accusations of corruption against its President Kalyan Chaubey. The national men’s team’s recent shocking loss to an under-strength Afghanistan in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match has further compounded the federation’s woes.
The AIFF constituted the ICC in January under the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013. The committee is responsible for investigating and addressing complaints of sexual harassment within the organization.
The allegations of harassment come at a time when the AIFF is facing scrutiny from various quarters. The Supreme Court has appointed a Committee of Administrators (CoA) to oversee the federation’s operations. The CoA is tasked with implementing reforms and ensuring transparency in the AIFF’s functioning.
The AIFF has not yet issued an official statement on the harassment allegations. However, the incident has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of women employees within the organization. It remains to be seen how the AIFF will handle the matter and whether it will take appropriate action to address the allegations.
