A section of Bangladesh's national women's football team has given a strong message to the Bangladesh Football Federation: "Change the coach, or we won't take it." That is, a large part of the team's senior footballers no longer want to play under current coach Peter Butler.
Bangladesh's national women's football team
On Thursday, a total of 18 footballers, including Sabina, Sanjida, Shamsunnahar, Rituparna, Masura, Monika, gave a statement expressing their displeasure in front of reporters. Sabina burst into tears openly.
The footballers said, they had a rift with the coach after the 2024 Saf Football season, which later escalated into a conflict "due to the coach's conduct". They now feel unable to play under this coach.
Who is Peter Butler?
Peter Butler is a 58-year-old football coach who has been associated with the Bangladesh national women's football team since March 2024. Before this he was the coach of Elite Football Academy of Bangladesh Football Federation. Butler has coached teams in the Premier League in Britain and also played for the national football teams of Liberia and Botswana.
Despite the controversy, the Bangladesh national women's football team won the South Asian Women's Football Championship in October 2024 under the supervision of Peter Butler. However, the footballers' dissatisfaction with the coach was still evident.
Complaints of footballers
A three-page written statement listing the names of the breakaway party led by Sabina, Sanjeeda was released to reporters.
In a written statement, the footballers accused the coach of body shaming, discrimination, abuse and emotional abuse. They said that the coach misbehaved with them on and off the field. The footballers say, "The coach makes fun of us. Creates a division between the team by talking about seniors and juniors. Makes comments about girls' clothes and body shaming. Makes nasty comments about his personal life."
Besides, they have also accused Peter Butler of abuse. "As a result of Peter we have been repeatedly abused. The coach's behavior has tortured us mentally and created a kind of panic in the camp. The players are very humiliated and disappointed by this."
What is behind this situation? Sabina's crying video has gone viral on social media, but many are offering different interpretations. Women's football matches were disrupted recently in two districts of North Bengal in Bangladesh, apparently related to Sabina's 'rebellious' press conference.
Sabina's case is mainly against the Bangladesh Football Federation and their coach. Among these, the Bangladesh Football Federation renewed the contract with the coach. The Federation is on high alert following Sabine's rebellion. Mahfuza Akhtar Kiran, head of the women's wing, said, "No details can be given now, but I am trying to find out the reasons behind the incident."
"Bangladesh football is not hostage to any particular person," BAFUF senior vice-president Imrul Hasan said, adding that there was a hint of a conspiracy by "one side" in what the authorities said.
Footballer's dispute with coach Peter Butler started from June 2024. It was then that Sabina and other senior players were benched and he thought of playing a comparable youth team.
Bangladeshi football analyst Rana Sheikh said, "The problem is not really between the 17-18 players. Basically, this revolt is due to 3-4 senior footballers. After telling them something about the new players placed on Butler's bench, they allege 'body shaming'."
Later in SAF 2024, there were reports of groupings within the team and dissatisfaction with the coach's decision in the media. The footballers said that promised money is also owed to the girls. In addition, SAFF's promise of a win bonus has yet to be fulfilled and Bafuf's contract with the women's football team has not been renewed after October.
"The FA did not renew our contract in October, so legally they cannot take any action against us. But if something is done and Peter Butler is interested in keeping it, we are forced to resign at once," the women's footballers said in a three-page statement. To be clear, we are no longer needed in the country's women's football.
Meanwhile, Buffett still favors Peter Butler. He started training with 13 footballers at Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BAFFE) had called 31 footballers to the camp, but 18 footballers demanding the removal of the coach did not attend the practice.
In a written statement, the footballers accused the coach of body shaming, discrimination, abuse and emotional abuse. They said that the coach misbehaved with them on and off the field. The footballers say, "The coach makes fun of us. Creates a division between the team by talking about seniors and juniors. Makes comments about girls' clothes and body shaming. Makes nasty comments about his personal life."
Besides, they have also accused Peter Butler of abuse. "As a result of Peter we have been repeatedly abused. The coach's behavior has tortured us mentally and created a kind of panic in the camp. The players are very humiliated and disappointed by this."
What is behind this situation? Sabina's crying video has gone viral on social media, but many are offering different interpretations. Women's football matches were disrupted recently in two districts of North Bengal in Bangladesh, apparently related to Sabina's 'rebellious' press conference.
Sabina's case is mainly against the Bangladesh Football Federation and their coach. Among these, the Bangladesh Football Federation renewed the contract with the coach. The Federation is on high alert following Sabine's rebellion. Mahfuza Akhtar Kiran, head of the women's wing, said, "No details can be given now, but I am trying to find out the reasons behind the incident."
"Bangladesh football is not hostage to any particular person," BAFUF senior vice-president Imrul Hasan said, adding that there was a hint of a conspiracy by "one side" in what the authorities said.
Footballer's dispute with coach Peter Butler started from June 2024. It was then that Sabina and other senior players were benched and he thought of playing a comparable youth team.
Bangladeshi football analyst Rana Sheikh said, "The problem is not really between the 17-18 players. Basically, this revolt is due to 3-4 senior footballers. After telling them something about the new players placed on Butler's bench, they allege 'body shaming'."
Later in SAF 2024, there were reports of groupings within the team and dissatisfaction with the coach's decision in the media. The footballers said that promised money is also owed to the girls. In addition, SAFF's promise of a win bonus has yet to be fulfilled and Bafuf's contract with the women's football team has not been renewed after October.
"The FA did not renew our contract in October, so legally they cannot take any action against us. But if something is done and Peter Butler is interested in keeping it, we are forced to resign at once," the women's footballers said in a three-page statement. To be clear, we are no longer needed in the country's women's football.
Meanwhile, Buffett still favors Peter Butler. He started training with 13 footballers at Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BAFFE) had called 31 footballers to the camp, but 18 footballers demanding the removal of the coach did not attend the practice.
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