The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld a decision by FIFA's Ethics Committee in a case involving Karim Keramuddin, the former president of the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), who was accused of sexual harassment, abuse, and rape of female players from the AFF women’s national team between 2013 and 2018. The CAS panel, composed of Prof. Luigi Fumagalli, The Hon. Michael Beloff QC, and Mr. José María Alonso Puig, confirmed FIFA's sanctions, which included a lifetime ban from football-related activities and a fine of CHF 1,000,000. The case centered on allegations that Keramuddin used his position to coerce players into sexual acts, threatening them with career repercussions and spreading false accusations to isolate them.
The panel addressed several legal and procedural issues, including the admissibility of anonymous witness testimony. It ruled that while anonymity could affect the right to a fair trial, such testimony was permissible under strict conditions, including cross-examination via protective measures like voice scrambling and verification of witness identities. The panel found no evidence of witness collusion or ulterior motives, emphasizing that the CAS hearing, conducted de novo, rectified any prior procedural flaws.
Multiple players provided detailed testimonies describing incidents of abuse, including forced physical contact, rape, and threats. Player A recounted being forcibly kissed and touched in Keramuddin’s office, while Player C described being raped in a hidden room within the AFF building. Player D testified about being lured into a secluded area and assaulted, with Keramuddin threatening her with a gun. The panel found these accounts credible and consistent, dismissing Keramuddin’s attempts to discredit them by pointing to minor inconsistencies.
Keramuddin denied all allegations, arguing that FIFA failed to provide sufficient evidence and that the case was a smear campaign orchestrated by a political rival. He also contested the use of anonymous witnesses and claimed procedural violations. However, the panel rejected these arguments, noting that the witnesses’ testimonies were corroborated by an Accusation Letter from Afghan authorities and that the de novo hearing ensured procedural fairness.
The panel concluded that Keramuddin violated multiple articles of the FIFA Code of Ethics, including failure to protect players' integrity (Article 23(1)), sexual harassment (Article 23(4)), and abuse of power (Article 25). The sanctions were deemed proportionate given the severity of the offenses, which the panel described as unprecedented in CAS jurisprudence. The decision underscored the need for accountability in sports governance and the protection of athletes from abuse.
Keramuddin’s appeal was dismissed in its entirety, with the panel affirming the lifetime ban and fine. The ruling highlighted the importance of deterring such misconduct, particularly by officials in positions of power, and reinforced the commitment to safeguarding individuals within the football community. The case set a significant precedent for addressing sexual violence and exploitation in sports, emphasizing the gravity of these violations and the necessity of stringent penalties.