Let the wound heal after the bleeding stops!

As children, we often treated minor wounds by chewing Durba grass and applying it to the injury—a simple yet effective first-aid method. However, when a wound becomes infected and starts festering, mere first aid is no longer enough. A similar crisis has unfolded in Bangladesh’s women’s football. The bleeding has begun, the wound has worsened, and yet no immediate treatment was applied. When 18 senior players collectively boycotted the coach, the situation escalated, turning the positive momentum of women's football into a negative spectacle.

On February 16, Bangladesh Football Federation’s (BFF) Women’s Wing Chief, Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, announced a resolution, leading many to believe that the dark clouds over women's football had finally cleared. But has the crisis truly ended? Or is this merely the calm before another storm?

There are still several unresolved issues:
The wounds from this crisis won’t heal overnight. Both Coach Peter Butler and the 18 senior players have presented conflicting narratives. While BFF officials may have mediated a temporary truce, how will they erase the bitterness that lingers? Can the senior players truly train and compete under Butler’s guidance without future conflicts? There’s a real possibility that they will once again find themselves entangled in disputes. Will the coach treat the players fairly, or will tensions resurface? If his instructions feel retaliatory, the problem may reignite at any moment. From this perspective, declaring the crisis over would be premature. The real test is yet to come.

In 2022, Bangladesh’s women’s football team clinched the SAFF Championship title, marking a historic achievement. Despite challenges, they managed to defend their crown in 2024. However, midway through the tournament, tensions between the coach and players erupted into a full-blown crisis. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) failed to contain the situation and instead reappointed Peter Butler as head coach, making them directly responsible for the debacle.

Since the Women’s Football Committee is tasked with overseeing the sport, the primary accountability falls on Mahfuza Akhter Kiron and her leadership. However, on the day she declared the crisis over, Kiron shifted the responsibility onto an emergency meeting, claiming that her committee had actually recommended against Butler’s reappointment. If her claim is accurate, then BFF’s top officials overruled the women's division’s decision, sowing the seeds for yet another internal conflict.

So, who is truly responsible for this mess? If we attempt to pinpoint accountability, an investigative committee would have to be formed. Then, to analyze why that committee hasn’t submitted a report, another committee would be needed! This never-ending cycle of bureaucratic delays and empty inquiries is a common theme across various sectors in the country. A lack of accountability and an aversion to admitting mistakes have ensured that the root cause of instability in women’s football will likely remain unknown.

From the very beginning, this issue has been handled chaotically. Disputes between coaches and players are nothing new in the football world. However, the only way to resolve such conflicts is through professionalism—something that neither the players nor Peter Butler demonstrated. Moreover, BFF officials also failed to act professionally in managing the situation.

In the professional world of football, the coach's authority is typically the final word. However, in a system that is merely disguised as professional but fundamentally lacks structure, as seen in Bangladesh, this principle does not fully apply. Ever since Peter Butler took over as the interim coach, conflicts have only escalated with time. The situation could have been controlled much earlier, either by the football authorities or even by Butler himself. Instead, he could have engaged with the players, explained his tactical philosophy, and openly discussed his vision for the team. This would have provided the players with a clear direction, fostering healthy internal competition rather than deepening conflicts. The recent crisis in women’s football could have been avoided if such measures were taken.

While the damage has already been done, it is crucial to reflect on past mistakes to prevent future crises. There needs to be open dialogue between coaches, players, and officials. Mahfuza Akhter Kiron has already mentioned plans for such discussions. The former FIFA Council Member described the recent conflict as a mere "misunderstanding" and outlined her approach to resolving it.

According to Kiron, “The girls will return to training under Peter Butler. The team will leave for the UAE on February 24. Those who are not traveling will be given a break, after which they will return to the national team camp. At that point, the coach, players, and BFF officials will sit together to ensure that no further misunderstandings occur.”

The recent crisis in Bangladesh women’s football has turned Sabina Khatun and her teammates into villains overnight. Players like Sabina Khatun, Masura Parvin, Rituparna Chakma, and Matsushima Sumaiya have been subjected to severe online abuse, with some still facing harassment. In a shocking turn of events, Matsushima Sumaiya, a Bangladeshi footballer raised in Japan, even received death threats and rape threats, forcing the 23-year-old athlete to seek legal protection.

Many of the social media critics blame Sabina Khatun, accusing her of orchestrating the division within the team. Some claim that the roots of this conflict date back to the last women’s league, where Sabina allegedly led a player alliance demanding a minimum salary of BDT 1.5 million for every player.

There are also claims that this "invisible syndicate" is the reason Bashundhara Kings withdrew from the women’s football league. With one of the dominant clubs stepping back, the future of the league became uncertain. Eventually, Nasrin Sporting Club signed most of the top national team players, allowing the league to continue, but the competition lacked intensity and professionalism.

The consequences of these issues were felt at the international level as well. While Bhutanese clubs managed to participate in AFC competitions, no Bangladeshi club earned the opportunity. As a result, some Bangladeshi players—Sabina Khatun, Rituparna Chakma, Maria Manda, and Monika Chakma—joined Bhutan’s Royal Thimphu College FC to compete in the AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary round. Unfortunately, despite their presence, the team failed to advance beyond the group stage, scoring just one goal in two matches, which was netted by Rituparna Chakma.

Let’s set aside the social media noise and return to the main issue. Various football fans have accused Sabina Khatun and her teammates of forming a syndicate for personal gain, but proving whether these allegations are true or false is nearly impossible. Just like chewing gum never truly disappears, these debates seem never-ending. Instead of engaging in pointless accusations, if football fans, players, coaches, and BFF officials stand together, Bangladesh’s women’s football dream can reach its full potential.

And what is that dream? It is to compete at the Asian level. Bangladesh has already stepped onto the continental stage twice at the U-17 level, led by Krishna Rani Sarkar, Monika Chakma, Maria Manda, Sanjida Akter, and Rituparna Chakma—all players from the current senior team, except for Sabina Khatun. These players know firsthand how intense the competition at the Asian level truly is.

The responsibility of passing on this experience to the next generation and preparing them properly lies with Krishna Rani Sarkar and her teammates. Just as they carried Bangladesh to two South Asian titles, it is the duty of football authorities to honor them appropriately. The journey of success that began in 2014 with Bangladesh winning the AFC U-14 (South and Central) Championship is still ongoing.

Fans and stakeholders must adopt a positive perspective toward these footballers who have brought consistent success to the nation. If everyone involved in Bangladesh football—players, officials, and fans—acts with professionalism and responsibility, it will benefit everyone in the long run.

Whether the authorities acknowledge it or not, for over a decade, the biggest source of young football talent in Bangladesh has been the primary school-level boys’ and girls’ tournaments. With changes in political power, various sectors have undergone transformations. In this wave of change, many things are disappearing, while new initiatives are emerging.

However, if the two grassroots tournaments organized under the Primary Education Directorate of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education vanish, it could spell trouble for the future of Bangladeshi football!

While resolving top-tier issues in women’s football is undoubtedly important, ensuring a strong talent pipeline from the grassroots to the elite level is equally crucial. A coordinated effort from all stakeholders is essential to keep this pipeline operational and effective. Otherwise, Bangladesh’s women’s football could lose its way!

Mahbub Sarkar: Sports Journalist and Sports Analyst