FIFA extends ban on Afghan soccer official accused of sexual assault

FIFA has extended the suspension of the Afghan soccer federation president who was charged with sexual assault against members of the national women's team, the governing body of world soccer said on Tuesday.

FIFA said another 90 days have been added to Keramuddin Karim's ban, imposed on December 12, at the recommendation of the investigating arm of its ethics commission.

At both national and international level, Karim will continue to be banned from all soccer-related activities, FIFA said in a statement.

Last year, Afghan women's national team players accused their federation's male officials, including the president Karim, of sexual and physical abuse.

Karim "firmly denied" the accusations, denouncing a "conspiracy" without evidence.

Former Afghanistan women's soccer captain Khalida Popal speaks during a motivational session with young women in south London, UK, March 30, 2018. /VCG Photo

According to the former Afghan soccer captain Khalida Popal, who has now fled from Afghanistan to Denmark after receiving death threats, the abuse took place during a seven-day training camp in Jordan where female soccer players were abused by the male officials from the Afghanistan soccer federation at the end of January last year.

British newspaper the Guardian reported in December that Popal had collected accounts that included sexual violence, death threats and rape from former teammates, who have safety concerns and have only spoken anonymously.

(With input from AFP)