Misuse of women-centric rights to misdirect anger is a new goal!

by Siddharth Yadav May 4, 2016

On 3^rd May, 2016, in a series of events, which shook the media fraternity, Footballcounter’s senior photographer, Pushpak Shirwadkar was alleged of molesting Thane District Football Association footballer Deepika Masurkar during the State Inter-District Women’s Football Championship.

The Thane District Football Association was accused by Nagpur District Football Association for fielding five ineligible players (Deepika Masurkar, Namrata Thakur, Pooja Morey, Surbhi Manjrekar and Snehal Manchkar) in their group-stage match against Dhule on 2^nd May, 2016 at the Karnatak Sporting Association (K.S.A) ground, Mumbai, which they won 4-0.

The Thane District Football Association players reached the K.S.A ground before Nagpur’s match versus Dhule, and argued with organizers, Mumbai District Football Association and officials present at the venue. As the discussion between organizers and the players heated as a result of the latter’s disqualification from the tournament, Pushpak (Shirwadkar) became the victim of Deepika Masurkar charge of touching her inappropriately as his camera was being snatched by the players.

Due to the protest, the fixture between Nagpur and Dhule shifted to Cooperage stadium, Mumbai. The Nagpur District Football Association won the decider after the match officials decided upon tossing the coin to announce the winner after a goalless normal-time.

Surprisingly, no one from the management protested other than their players with the secretary of the Thane District Football Association missing from the picture. Thane District Football Association captain Nagma Shaikh admitted that they were aware of the ineligible players and had informed team’s secretary to file an NOC but nothing happened.

At the time of protesting, Pushpak was recording the incident, who surprisingly got questioned by Thane’s Kashmira Pednekar and moments later, their midfielder Deepika Masurkar was seen stopping him in anger. A video of this incident was later uploaded on our page.

Moreover, Thane’s players called the police and lodged a complaint of ‘molestation’ on Pushpak Shirwadkar, a terrible step taken by the players to hide their own wrongs to humiliate others.

More than 5-6 players from Thane District charged down on him and yet he was the one to be accused for molestation. Match commissioner Rajendra Sawant intervened and helped Pushpak to get away.

“We didn’t know he (Pushpak) was from Press. He pushed me and went on to use bad words,” said Deepika in a statement.

What bugged everyone is, Pushpak was the one who covered the recent concluded MDFA Women’s League where Deepika Masurkar played for Father Agnel ‘Blue’, the above statement just doesn’t makes any sense that the players has not acknowledged the only photographer on the field.

Not only Deepika, but her teammate Namrata Thakur kicked Pushpak Shirwadkar’s camera; a disgusting and unacceptable to say the least. If such is the case, how does one expects media to cover football?

Later in the evening, the players of Thane District Football Association decided to take back their ‘false’ complaint. How immature and pointless does the whole incident sound now? Accepting their mistake and moving on just didn’t seem to be their thing.

Just imagine being at Pushpak Shirwadkar’s place. Had there been no MDFA committee members around him to witness this incident, it could have turned out to be a disaster for Pushpak Shirwadkar. His career would have been ruined right there because of such a false accusation.

Such blatant misuse of one’s right can destroy a life of a photographer. Pushpak has recently won the first prize for All India Photography, just think his career going down the drain because of one false accusation.

Women Rights are one thing and completely misusing is another. One can’t just accused anyone with a false complain.

In a other story which was unfolded later, Thane’s Captain Nagma Shaikh went on to accused Mumbai for also fielding ineligible players.

“Nine players from Mumbai District belongs from Thane,” said Nagma.

If this is a case then MDFA should act upon after a strict inspection.