BFF admits mistake in dropping Bashundhara Sports Complex as BPL venue
Bangladesh Football Federation on Friday admitted that they made mistakes and also claimed that there was a misunderstanding between the federation and Bashundhara Kings on venue issues.
The Professional Football League Committee chairman and BFF senior vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedy confessed it after a meeting at BFF house in the capital.
The committee announced to rearrange venues, fixtures and format of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League confirming six venues — each venue will be considered as the home venues for two BPL clubs.
Reigning champions Bashundhara Kings and former champions Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Ltd used Bashundhara Sports Complex as their home venues. All matches will be held basis on home and away format from round four. The fixture will be published soon.
“Actually it’s not an agreement, but of course, we will just say it was a misunderstanding between the federation and Bashundhara Kings. We have now clearly understood. If you think it is a mistake, then we are going to correct it,” Murshedy replied while asking him about their decision towards Bashundhara Sports Complex.
“We heard through the media that they (Kings) will go to FIFA and the Court. If they went there, the letter would definitely come to us first because BFF is the baby of FIFA. But we haven’t got anything yet. I should not make any comment on it,” he told the reporters after the day’s meeting.
Bashundhara Sports Complex, situated at the Bashundhara Residential area in Dhaka, is one of the most precious and expensive assets of the country’s largest business conglomerate Bashundhara Group. The venue was expected to emerge as a professional soccer ground with the BPL opener on February 3.
But PFLC issued a new fixture was issued a day before the BPL opener as Bashundhara suggested to BFF schedule only Kings and Sheikh Russel’s matches at that venue so that they can maintain the standard pitch for the upcoming international events including AFC Cup.
The committee ignored Bashundhara’s observations and rescheduled all matches at the other two venues. Later, Bashundhara took legal steps against the federation and sought equity from FIFA, AFC and the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the federation’s autocracy and venue snub.
PFLC finally stepped down from its autocratic attitude and going to reschedule the matches of Bangladesh Premier League in six venues including the country’s modern soccer stadium Bashundhara Sports Complex.
“We can’t say anything on these issues right now because the final decision will take top management. We are observing the whole situation, BFF will again change the format (home and away), we also have to think about it,” Kings’ representative in PFLC Ahmed Shaaek said.
The committee also decided to exclude Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Stadium in Tongi from their list after a ridiculous drama. Archery Federation raised big allegations against BFF of grabbing their dedicated practice ground and also threatened its president Lt Gen (retd) Moinul Islam to remove archers from the ground.
BFF also received harsh criticism from State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell and the football fraternity due to their forceful and autocratic acts on the venue issues.
Among other clubs – Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Saif Sporting Club will get Shaheed Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshigonj, Dhaka Abahani and Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society will get Sylhet District Stadium.
Uttar Baridhara Club and Muktijoddha Sangsad KC will get Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj, Police Football Club and Swadhinata Krira Sangha will get Muktijuddho Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi and Chittagong Abahoni Ltd and Dhaka Mohammedan SC Ltd will get Shaheed Dhirendranath Stadium in Comilla.
Source: Daily Sun
