The pressure continues to mount on current Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter. Photo: JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
Indian club Odisha FC’s owner ‘disgusted’ by Stuart Baxter’s rape comment
The owner of Indian club Odisha FC, Rohan Sharma, has voiced his anger after coach Stuart Baxter’s rape comments went viral.
The pressure continues to mount on current Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter. Photo: JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
Indian Super League side Odisha FC are “appalled” by offensive comments made by head coach Stuart Baxter after he suggested his players would need “to rape someone or get raped” to win a penalty.
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Infuriated by a refereeing decision that went against his side during their 1-0 defeat by Jamshedpur FC on Monday, Stuart Baxter used an analogy to complain about how difficult it is for his team to get refereeing decisions their way.
“You need decisions to go your way and we needed a penalty. I think one of my players would have to rape someone or get raped himself if he was going to get a penalty,” Baxter said during a post-match interview.
Stuart Baxter’s comments predictably quickly drew worldwide outrage.
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In a statement following up on Baxter’s comments, Odisha FC condemned the 67-year-old Englishman while promising to “handle the matter internally.”
“The club is appalled at the comments made by head coach Stuart Baxter during the post-match interview today,” Odisha said in a statement.
“It is completely unacceptable whatever the context and does not reflect the values of the club.
“We, at Odisha FC, unreservedly apologise and the club management will handle this matter internally.”
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Meanwhile, Odisha FC owner Rohan Sharma was also quick to voice his anger after Stuart Baxter’s comments went viral.
Sharma tweeted: “I am absolutely disgusted and infuriated by the comments. I’ve said Odisha FC is a safe space for all, and to make light of a serious awful crime in such an offhanded way is reprehensible. I sincerely apologize to everyone on my behalf and the clubs.”
Baxter’s side are bottom of the 11-team Indian Super League standings with just eight points from their 14 matches this season.
They have won just once under Baxter, who joined them in June 2020 after stints in South Africa coaching Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport United and Bafana Bafana.
