Gopalganj Sporting Club's (GSC) last-minute withdrawal from the recently concluded Premier League season has ignited controversy surrounding the Bangladesh Football Federation's (BFF) disciplinary actions, particularly regarding the inconsistency in fines.
The BFF Disciplinary Committee handed down a seemingly lenient punishment for GSC – barring them from participating in the remainder of the current season and the beginning of the next. This penalty stands in stark contrast to the hefty fines levied against clubs opting out of the Junior League.
The inconsistency in fines is particularly glaring when compared to the case of Bashundhara Kings and North Baridhara.
These clubs, expressing reluctance over the playing surface at Kamalapur Stadium, withdrew from last season's Federation Cup and were slapped with a fine of Tk 5 lakh. This sum pales in comparison to the fines exceeding Tk 10 lakh imposed on Saif Sporting Club and North Baridhara for skipping the 2022 Junior League.
Jahangir, General Secretary of North Baridhara, has vocally protested this discriminatory approach for two years. In light of the GSC penalty, his concerns regarding the BFF's selective application of fines appear increasingly valid. Jahangir, along with many organizers and former footballers, remain deeply dissatisfied with the federation's apparent disregard for criticism.
The situation is further muddled by the ongoing Junior Leagues for both the Premier and Championship Leagues.
These leagues, which began last season, have witnessed low participation. The BFF Disciplinary Committee has yet to address the issue of non-participation in these leagues, leaving observers to question how the disparity in fines – a significant penalty for the Junior League compared to a slap on the wrist for the Premier League – will be addressed.
The sluggish pace of the BFF's response is further exemplified by the delayed release of the official notification regarding the GSC penalty. The decision was made on July 3rd, yet the notification wasn't issued until three days later. This slow bureaucratic process adds to the general sense of frustration surrounding the federation's disciplinary actions.
