The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday asked its executive committee member Deepak Sharma to refrain from game-related activities till the conclusion of a probe by a panel into his alleged physical assault of two women footballers in Goa.

Two footballers of Himachal Pradesh-based Khad FC, taking part in the Indian Women’s Football (IWL) League second division, had alleged that Sharma, the owner of the club, had barged into their room and physically assaulted them on the night of March 28.

They filed a complaint with the competition committee of the AIFF and the Goa Football Association (GFA), which was hosting the tournament, also lodged a complaint at the Mapusa police station on the basis of the complaint of the two women footballers.

In the complaint, according to sources, the two players said Sharma was in an inebriated state.

Sharma was later arrested by Mapusa police under various sections, including causing hurt, using force against women, among others.

Union sports minister Anurag Thakur earlier in the day asked the AIFF to take “quick” and “strong legal action” against the official.

The AIFF stopped short of suspending Sharma, who is also a member of the executive committee of the federation.

The committee comprises executive committee member Pinky Bompal Magar, AIFF’s safety and child safeguarding officer Rita Jairath and Vijay Bali.

Asked why Sharma was not suspended immediately, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said, “If we do that (suspension of Sharma), the committee would have been left with little work.”