Indian Super League side Odisha sack their manager Stuart Baxter after rape comment

Indian Super League side Odisha SACK manager Stuart Baxter after English boss, 67, launched a bizarre rant and claimed his players must ‘rape or be raped to get a penalty’ on live television

  • Stuart Baxter was furious with refereeing after a defeat in Indian Super League 
  • He made comment that his players must ‘rape or get raped’ to win a penalty 
  • Odisha released a statement saying they are ‘appalled’ by ‘unacceptable’ remark
  • The conducted internal investigation and have sacked the English boss  

An English manager in charge of Indian Super League side Odisha has been sacked after claiming his players must ‘rape or get raped to win a penalty’. 

Stuart Baxter’s extraordinary outburst came when he conducted a post-match interview having seen his team lose 1-0 to Jamshedpur. 

The 67-year-old went on a bizarre rant and said: ‘You need decisions to go your way, and they didn’t. I don’t know when we are going to get a penalty. I think one of my players will have to rape someone or get raped himself if he was going to get a penalty.’

Stuart Baxter, who manages Odisha in the Indian Super League, was sacked for his remark

The club released a statement on their social media channels, confirming his dismissal

The club released a statement on their social media channels, confirming his dismissal

Baxter, former manager of South Africa and Finland, was initially condemned by Odisha for his remarks and subsequently removed from his position.

A first club statement read: ‘The club is appalled at the comments made by Head Coach, Stuart Baxter during the post-match interview today.

‘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.’

And that was followed up with: ‘Odisha FC has decided to terminate Head Coach, Stuart Baxter’s contract with immediate effect. The interim coach for the remainder of the season will be announced soon.’ 

Odisha are bottom of the Indian Super League having picked up eight points from 14 games so far this season. 

Odisha had gone down 1-0 against Jamshedpur and Baxter went on a bizarre rant

Odisha had gone down 1-0 against Jamshedpur and Baxter went on a bizarre rant

Baxter has taken charge of the South Africa national team before on two separate occasions

Baxter has taken charge of the South Africa national team before on two separate occasions

Baxter spent his playing career in the English leagues with Preston, Morcambe and Stockport before moving abroad to the likes of Sweden, Australia and the USA. 

He took charge of England Under 19s in 2002-04, followed by the Bafana Bafana the next year and then again between 2017-19.

Baxter took the job with Odisha last year.