Watch: Football Club Official Verbally Abuses Female Referee In Delhi

Days after All India Football Federation official Deepak Sharma was suspended for alleged physical assault, a new controversy has gripped the sporting community of India. At a second-tier match in Delhi, a male City Football Club official verbally abused and threatened a female referee. In a video widely shared online, the man identified as Mohammed Sajid, can be heard threatening to take away the referee's job for a ruling made during the match. He also accused her of consuming intoxicants before the match.

More important who will protect the female referees? This is not the first instance. https://t.co/t6Hkx7FhNM

— Indian Women's football (@indiafemmefooty) April 6, 2024

"Aapki posting kha jaunga, aap kisi nashey mein hongi. Last year bhi tumne ye harkat kari thi. (I can take away your job. Maybe you have taken drugs. You did the same thing last year," Sajid can be heard shouting at the referee. While the other officials tried to restrain him, he continued to verbally abuse her.

Not The First Instance

This is not the first time a referee in Indian football was threatened for just doing their job. In the recent incident, Delhi Football Club official Mohammed Sajid allegedly lashed out at the female referee over a call taken during the match. "You have no right. I want to know why she showed me a card. She has been targeting us for a long time," he can be heard shouting.

Anuj Gupta, President of the Delhi Soccer Association told the news organisation Sports Now, "Such behaviour is uncalled for and we will definitely look into it. It was a heated match, which is why it happened. But we are working towards women's development in every aspect." The All India Football Federation (AIFF) have yet to comment on the incident or take action against Sajid. 

Sajid's behaviour not only undermines the spirit of an unbiased game but also exposes the inadequate protection for referees. The Indian sports landscape has been blemished by several instances of senior officials abusing their power and threatening or assaulting players. It also throws light on the mistreatment of women in sports. 

On April 2, AIFF official Deepak Sharma was suspended for physically abusing two female players. The incident happened when the Khad FC team from Himachal Pradesh were in Goa for the Indian Women’s League 2. Palak Verma and Ritika Thakur were boiling eggs as they missed dinner time when Sharma stormed into their room and beat them.