PANJIM: The case against the Executive Member of All India Football Federation (AIFF) Deepak Sharma, who was arrested in Goa for physical assault on women footballers, has taken a curious turn with AIFF Women’s Committee Chairperson Valanka Alemao filing a defamation charge against Goa Football Association (GFA) President Caitano Fernandes.
Valanka dared him to prove his allegations of she asking the players to withdraw the complaint against the alleged accused Sharma.
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Referring to an alleged doctored audio, Valanka in a statement said, “Sports is something which has no gender, caste, religion and it is something that unites everyone irrespective of differences. Mr Caitano, why are you making politics on such a sensitive subject? Why are you making certain doctored audio viral? I fail to understand why he is politicising a sensitive issue and making so-called doctored audio of me and defaming me. Please understand these girls are somebody’s daughters, sisters.”
She further said that in order to show her in bad light, such a sensitive issue shouldn’t have been politicised.
“I ask you to show even one recording in which Valanka Alemao has said you please withdraw the complaint. This is not fair and I have taken a serious call on this and I have filed a complaint against Caitano.”
Highlighting that when the issue was brought to the notice of the GFA officials, only male members of the GFA met the victims.
“I have requested the police to investigate and look into it completely. Please understand these girls have spoken to the match commissioner, the vice-president and general secretary, but there was not a single female. And why was the match conducted on the next day, (March 30). The incident happened on the March 28 and I went on March 29. Before I went, the GFA officials (men) went to meet those girls. I wish to ask, is there not a single woman in GFA and I being the AIFF Women’s Committee head, I cannot go and meet those girls? So you have a so-called insecurity because I went to meet those girls and you are highlighting such an issue in a bad light.”
Reiterating that justice will be done, she said, “Sorry whoever has done wrong, the girls have given all the facts of the matter and the AIFF has taken a proper call on this. The probe is on and nobody can go free if he has done something wrong.”
Reacting to the defamation filed by Valanka Alemao, GFA President said, “Entire Goa and entire India knows what the GFA President did to give justice to the girls. That is all I am willing to say. I need not say anything more.”
