Maharashtra Football Coach Arrested For Sexually Assaulting Teen Player For 3 Years

A 36-year-old football coach in Maharashtra's Palghar district has been arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl repeatedly over three years , after promising to build her career in the sport, police said on Monday.

The accused, who runs a private football training centre in Vasai , was taken into custody on Saturday following a complaint lodged by the victim's family.

According to the complaint, the girl had joined the coaching centre in 2023 to train under the accused. He allegedly gained her trust by assuring her of "bright opportunities" in football, before sexually assaulting her, a pattern that police say continued for three years.

The girl has further alleged that the accused filmed and photographed the assaults. When she later began reducing contact with him, he allegedly threatened to make the recordings public, using them to pressure her into continued compliance.

Distressed by the prolonged harassment, the girl confided in her family, who approached the Manikpur police station and filed a formal complaint, an official said.

Acting on the complaint, police conducted a preliminary inquiry before registering an FIR against the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to rape and criminal intimidation, along with provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act .

Further investigation into the case is underway, police added.