The prize ceremony at Rafiquddin Bhuiyan Stadium concluded the tournament, but the celebrations for Bashundhara Kings continue. Mohammedan, despite a stellar season that included reaching two tournament finals and finishing second in the league, were left to lick their wounds.
Coach Alfaz Ahmed expressed his regret at missing out on the trophy. "To be champions, you need a bit of luck, which we lacked today," he said. "There was a defensive lapse, and conceding the goal in extra time proved costly. We could have been champions otherwise."
Mohammedan had raised concerns about the refereeing before the final. Following the defeat, their concerns intensified. Coach Ahmed questioned a particular decision, stating, "Their player pushed ours, who went down. It was a clear foul, not a goal." The referee in question, Jaseem Akhtar, was criticized by Ahmed for his lack of experience handling big matches.
“There are five of us [teams], and Kings have benefited from a few decisions,” Ahmed continued. “Apart from that, where is the accountability for the referee?"
Calling upon the Bangladesh Football Federation, the former national team captain said, "Everyone witnessed the standard of refereeing today. For the sake of football, I urge them to address this issue so no team receives preferential treatment."
Mohammedan vehemently protested the Kings' goal in extra time, with some players even refusing to continue. Following a ten-minute stoppage, they eventually rejoined the match for the second half of extra time. However, with their spirits dampened, Mohammedan struggled to create any significant chances apart from a Shahriar Emon shot.
“Mentally, we were broken,” Coach Ahmed admitted. “The stoppage had an impact on our performance in the second half of extra time,” said MSC coach.
This incident mirrored a similar situation that unfolded earlier in the season where Mohammedan Hockey walked off the field in protest against an umpire's decision.
While Mohammedan ultimately chose to continue the match, their Federation Cup dream ended in defeat, mirroring their loss in the Independence Cup final. Both finals saw them squander leads, leaving them with a bitter taste despite a commendable season overall.
