Allegations that national football coach Christophe Gamel interrogated players from the Ba Women’s team on Saturday because he was allegedly unhappy they spoke to the media about him have emerged.

The alleged incident happened at the Vatuwaqa, Suva Fiji Football Academy on Saturday afternoon.

The players have called for Gamel’s suspension while investigations into his alleged behaviour continues.

The under-fire coach has been in the spotlight since Saturday after several national youth and women’s players accused him of alleged assault and bullying.

Two senior Ba players allege members of the team who have played at national level were called inside a room and interrogated by Gamel, Marika Rodu and Anushil Kumar.

The three are at the centre of the latest saga surrounding Fiji Football Association, which president Rajesh Patel has chosen to stay silent about.

Gamel and Fiji FA’s solicitor Samuel Ram were sent emails asking for a response to the allegations. They did not respond by the time this edition went to press.

Rodu, however, in a brief interview last night, responded to the new allegations.

“No comment,” Rodu said.

Kumar has referred all questions to Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel and chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf.

One of the players interrogated feels Fiji Football Association should be addressing the allegations against Gamel, not calling them in for impromptu interviews.

The players allege Gamel asked them the following questions:

• Did you hear about the news reporters going around in Ba conducting interviews?

• Did you talk to them?
• Did you know that you’ve signed a code of conduct?

• Did you inform any of the officials about the interview?

• Were you the one who made the allegations in the newspaper?

“I don’t think he should be asking all these questions because he’s the (alleged) culprit, not us,” one player said.

“I think he needs to be suspended until the investigations into his (alleged) behaviour end.”

-Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback:  sheldon.chanel@fijisun.com.fj