AGO issues arrest warrant for Karim over sexual charges

KABUL (Afghanistan Time): The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) on Sunday issued arrest warrant for ex-football chief Keramuddin Karim a day after he was banned life from all soccer-related activities for abusing his position and sexually abusing female players.

Spokesman for the AGO, Jamshid Rasuli has confirmed his arrest warrant.

The issue was raised by a member of the Afghan Football Federation, Khalida Popal, who claimed last year in December that woman members of the federation were abused physically and sexually by male members of the AFF at its headquarters and at a training camp in Jordan in 2016.

Keramuddin Keram, who was also a former FIFA Standing Committee member, was accused by at least five Afghan female football players of repeated sexual abuse between 2013-18, Reuters reported.

FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee found Keram had breached article 23 (protection of physical and mental integrity) and article 25 (abuse of position) of its Code of Ethics and sanctioned him with a life ban at all levels of the game. He was also fined 1,000,000 Swiss francs ($1.01 million)

The national women’s team was formed in 2010, and FIFA, global soccer’s governing body, suspended Keram and five other officials in December as the investigation took place.

Moreover, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass welcomed FIFA’s decision regarding the former President of Afghanistan Football Federation.

“We welcome @FIFAcom’s decision in response to the assaults against @AfghanistanWnt players. We call on the Government of Afghanistan to complete its investigation, and ensure justice is served,” Bass said in short tweet.

He furthered, “Afghan women must be supported and provided a safe work environment free from harassment or assault, whether their workplace is a government office, school, private business, or a football pitch.”