Panaji, Jan 6 : Chief patron of Churchill brothers football club, Churchill Alemao Wednesday said the cramped interior of a Spice Jet flight could have been one of the reasons for the molestation controversy involving three of his club's players.

Alemao also hinted at a conspiracy against his I-league-winning club, which could have led to Tuesday night's controversy in which the three footballers, including two Nigerians were booked for molestation.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji Wednesday, Alemao, also a cabinet minister in the state Congress regime said: "The flight (Spice Jet) is like a bus. Each other you are touching accidentally. They don't do it purposely. Odafa (Okalie) will never go for women. He has wife and children. While getting up he touched her. But he also apologized," Alemao told reporters.

Alemao, who has in the recent past led the political chorus criticizing foreign women for getting raped in Goa's coastal areas during the night, also tried to make light of the accusation of sexual misconduct levelled by the air hostess against three players -- Odafa Okalie, Ogba Kalu, both from Nigeria and Arindham Bhattacharya.

"These days even to talk to women is difficult. Thank god, I don't have a woman secretary," Alemao said.

Alemao further said that he suspected a controversy against his team, but refused to blame anyone in particular for the incident just yet.

"I am not sure who is behind it, but it is a conspiracy for sure. My team is playing tomorrow against giants Mohun Bagan, but all my players are so disturbed. The three players had to wait in police custody till 2 a. m. in the morning today (Wednesday)," Alemao said.

Three of the club's top players were Tuesday night accused by an air hostess on board the Spice Jet flight of molestation.

Following the complaint, the entire 23-member team, which was en-route to Kolkata to play an I-league game with Mohun Bagan, was offloaded at the Mumbai airport and criminal charges were filed against the three accused. (IANS)