February 3 – Indian Super League club Odisha FC dismissed their coach Stuart Baxter on Wednesday after the former South Africa used a rape analogy in his post-match comments.
On Monday, Odisha FC were defeated by Jamshedspur, a result that didn’t go down well with Baxter. “You need decisions to go your way and they didn’t,” said Baxter in an interview on Indian’s Star Sports television. “I don’t know when we’re going to get 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.”
His analogy quickly went viral on social media and the club issued a statement saying they were “appalled” by the comments, describing them as “completely unacceptable”. On Tuesday, Odisha FC moved to sack Baxter.
“Odisha FC has decided to terminate head coach Stuart Baxter’s contract with immediate effect,” a statement said. “The interim coach for the remainder of the season will be announced soon.”
Baxter arrived in Odisha last June. He has coached around the world with successful stints at AIK in Sweden and Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa.
Odisha FC are bottom of the ISL table with eight points from 14 matches. The club recently appointed Raj Athwal as president. In the past, Athwal headed the commercial departments at Glasgow Rangers and Watford.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1731840365labto1731840365ofdlr1731840365owedi1731840365sni@o1731840365fni1731840365
