Alex-Ambrose

Picture Credit: Twitter

In a significant development, former Indian international footballer Alex Ambrose has been sacked from his position as an assistant coach of the Indian U17 women’s football team for sexual misconduct during a foreign tour. Earlier, a player made sensational allegations of sexual misconduct against Ambrose, the 39-year-old has been told to return to India midway through the youth team's preparation tour to Italy and Norway ahead of the U17 World Cup in October.

The All India Footballer Federation released a statement stating that they have received a complaint from a player of alleged sexual misconduct by a senior member of the camp and as per the zero-tolerance policy on indiscipline, the alleged person has been asked to return to India immediately. "The federation has provisionally suspended the individual following pending investigation and asked him to be physically present for further investigations upon his arrival," the national body had said in a statement.

While the AIFF didn't mention the name of Ambrose in their statement, Dr SY Quraishi, a member of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators wrote on Twitter, "Alex Ambrose, Asst Head Coach of Under 17 Women’s team has been sacked for sexual misconduct. Further action under process."

A report published in the Times of India stated that Ambrose may further face police charges. Notably, Ambrose has been working with the junior team since 2019 and was earlier an assistant coach at the Mumbai City FC outfit in the Indian Super League.

Team India is in Group A at the U17 World Cup, along with the United States, Morocco and Brazil. They will kick start their campaign on the opening day of the marquee tournament, October 14 against the US, followed by matches against Morocco and Brazil on October 14 and October 17, respectively.