Keramuddin Keram

{{Infobox Governor

| name = Keramuddin Keram

| image = Keramuddin Karim of Afghanistan in July 2011-cropped.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Keramuddin Keram as Governor of Panjshir in July 2011

| order =

| office = Governor of Panjshir, Afghanistan

| term_start = 21 April 2010

| term_end = 2 November 2013

| lieutenant =

| predecessor = Hajji Bahlol

| successor = Abdul Rahman Kabiri

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1962|1|1}}

| birth_place = Panjshir, Afghanistan

| occupation = President of A.F.F.(2013-2019)|

}}

Keramuddin Keram (born 1 January 1962) is an Afghan politician who served as Governor of Panjshir Province from 21 April 2010 until 2 November 2013. Keram served as the President of the Afghanistan Football Federation from 2004 until 2019, when he was banned from football for life by FIFA after being accused of sexual abuse by several players from the Afghanistan women's national football team.{{cite web|url=http://aff.org.af/english/aff-president/ |title=AFF president | Afghanistan Football Federation Official Website |access-date=February 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330065949/http://aff.org.af/english/aff-president/ |archive-date=March 30, 2015 }}{{Cite web|title=Ex-Football Chief Yet To Be Detained Despite Arrest Warrant|url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/ex-football-chief-yet-be-detained-despite-arrest-warrant|access-date=2021-04-10|website=TOLOnews|language=en}} Despite an indictment and arrest warrant being issued against him, Keram is not only remain at large, but he also pledged allegiance to the Taliban after their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-23|title=World Report 2021: Rights Trends in Afghanistan|url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/afghanistan|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}}

Sexual assault allegations

In 2018, an investigation was launched when several players of Afghanistan women's national football team alleged that Karim had sexually assaulted, threatened and physically attacked them.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/27/sexual-abuse-allegations-afghan-fa-president-keramuudin-karim|title='There was blood everywhere': the abuse case against the Afghan FA president|first=Exclusive by Suzanne|last=Wrack|date=27 December 2018|via=www.theguardian.com}}{{Cite news |last=Wrack |first=Suzanne |last2=Wrack |first2=Exclusive by Suzanne |date=2018-11-30 |title=Fifa examining claims of sexual and physical abuse on Afghanistan women’s team |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/30/fifa-examining-claims-sexual-physical-abuse-afghanistan-womens-team |access-date=2023-02-08 |issn=0261-3077}}

On June 8, 2019, FIFA barred Keram, who was president of Afghanistan's soccer association, from the sport for life after reports that he had threatened and sexually assaulted players. He was also fined about USD $1 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/08/sports/soccer/afghanistan-soccer-sexual-abuse.html|title=FIFA Bars Afghan Soccer Chief for Life After Sexual Assault Accusations|first1=Tariq|last1=Panja|first2=Rod|last2=Nordland|date=June 8, 2019|via=NYTimes.com}} Following this, a warrant was issued for his arrest.{{Cite web|title=Special Forces Attempt Arrest of Ex-AFF President|url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/special-forces-attempt-arrest-ex-aff-chairman|access-date=2021-04-10|website=TOLOnews|language=en}}

In August 2020, special forces attempted to arrest Keram in Panjshir, but were unsuccessful, with Human Rights Watch reporting that Keram had the protection of a local militia.{{Cite web|title=World Report 2021: Rights Trends in Afghanistan|url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/afghanistan|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}} Only on August and September 2021 he resurfaced allegedly to assist the Taliban to defeat the Islamic Republic government forces in Panjshir after the Taliban's takeover of Kabul and since then he pledged allegiance to the Taliban government.{{cite web |title=Former Football Federation Chief, Accused of Sexual Assault, Meets Taliban Governor |url=https://www.afintl.com/en/202405270168 |website=Afghanistan International |access-date=7 April 2025 |date=27 May 2024}}