As per their previous statement of refusal, Feni Soccer Club and Uttar Baridhara Club didn't come to the match venue to take part in the first game of the relegation play-offs, scheduled for Wednesday at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The game, officially the home match of Soccer Club, was scheduled to kick off at 3:30pm. However, none of the teams were present at the venue and the referee had no other choice but to declare the match abandoned after waiting for 15 minutes.
The match commissioner and the referees will send their reports to the Bangladesh Football Federation, who are then supposed to forward it to the disciplinary committee for further investigation. The disciplinary committee is likely to take action against the clubs based on the reports and as per the disciplinary code.
There are some guidelines in the BFF's by-laws as to what to do when the participating clubs refuse to play. According to the by-laws, the clubs shall be required to pay compensation as well as fine. According to article 20.3.3 of the by-laws, the clubs might get disqualified from taking part in the next edition of the competition.
This is the first time in professional football league history that none of the two teams were present at the venue on match-day. “I have been working as match commissioner and referee for 25 years. I never witnessed such an incident before,” said match commissioner Ibrahim Nessar.
He continued, “We will inform it to the disciplinary committee. They will then take the necessary steps.”
Earlier last Tuesday, both the clubs sent letters to the football federation informing that they will not take part in the play-offs. The officials of both the clubs stated that they took the decision because of the end of contracts with the foreign players and tiredness of the local players.
It will be the first time in the history of nine editions of professional league that the play-offs would decide relegation.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
