U-17 assistant coach axed over ‘misconduct’ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM IS IN EUROPE TO PREPARE FOR WORLD CUP
INDIAN women Under-17 football team’s assistant coach Alex Ambrose has been sacked for alleged sexual misconduct.
Former India international Ambrose was suspended and called back from Norway for the “misconduct” with a player during a training and exposure tour of Europe. “Alex Ambrose, Asstt Head Coach of Under-17 Women’s team has been sacked for sexual misconduct. Further action under process,” said SY Quraishi, a member of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) overseeing the All India Football Federation.
The 39-year-old Ambrose represented the Indian national football team in six matches and scored a goal against Singapore during their triumphant LG Cup campaign in 2002. He also played in the 2003 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against North Korea in both the home and away fixtures.
The team is touring Europe as part of preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India is hosting from October 11-30.
Head coach Thomas Dennerby was allegedly a witness to the “incident” and he immediately reported it to the AIFF.
“An event of misconduct has been reported in the U17 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 national body had said in a statement at the time, without mentioning Ambrose’s name.
This is the latest in a number of sexual harassment cases involving Indian sport. Recently a female cyclist accused a national coach of inappropriate behaviour during a training trip to Slovenia. The coach was sacked and is facing an investigation.
A female sailor also accused a coach of making her uncomfortable during a trip abroad.
Meanwhile, condemning the incident, the member associations urged the COA and AIFF administration to initiate an independent enquiry and called for a life ban for Ambrose from the game.
“State Associations would like to recommend stringent action including legal and exemplary punishment with a life ban from football and even canceling his coaching licenses,” said a statement.
State Associations also resolved to request both COA and AIFF administration to urgently appoint a Woman Safety Officer with immediate effect to instil confidence in the system for women players and women working in football, especially with national teams and also at the AIFF house in New Delhi, it added.
The member associations also placed in a “sincere request” that all male support staff be replaced with women as early as possible.