Unprecedented chaos on the playing field!

At a time when football in the country is witnessing a noticeable surge in popularity, the scenes unfolding on the field are nothing short of disgraceful, disturbing, and violent. The pitch has increasingly become a battleground involving players, officials, referees, and even spectators, making the dust seem thicker than the actual gameplay. The top two tiers of domestic football — the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and the Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) — have witnessed numerous incidents of violence, disorder, and breaches of discipline. These unprecedented events are casting a dark shadow over the image of Bangladeshi football.

Most recently, on May 11, former FIFA referee GM Chowdhury Nayon was assaulted during a BCL match at the Fortis ground in the Jalshiri Project area of Purbachal. Video footage showed the referee being brutally beaten after City Club officials stormed the pitch during their match against the BFF Elite Academy. Nayon’s assistants tried in vain to protect him. The incident has sparked outrage across the football community. The attack followed a penalty decision that went against City Club, who alleged it was a wrong call. Even if the referee made an error, there are formal procedures in place for review and accountability. Historically, referees have faced strict punishment for wrong decisions. Yet, City Club officials chose to take the law into their own hands and commit an unlawful act.

Just days earlier, on April 30, referees were also targeted during another BCL match between PWD and Wari Club. In one particularly disgraceful incident, a referee had his flag snatched mid-game. In yet another BCL match between PWD and Farashganj, a penalty decision triggered a hostile reaction from club officials and fans. Unsportsmanlike conduct, attempted assaults, bottle-throwing, and even shoe-hurling have become disturbingly common. Week after week, scenes of brawls and thuggery are raising serious concerns among fans, who are now asking: why has this level of chaos become the new normal in our football?

Even BPL matches have seen a rise in hostilities. On April 12, at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, a match between Bashundhara Kings and Mohammedan turned violent with players, staff, and fans clashing. Both clubs were later fined. On April 26, a match between Abahani and Mohammedan at the Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla also saw fighting erupt. On May 2, at the same venue, a fan illegally entered the field during a match between Mohammedan and Bangladesh Police FC, pushed a player, and attempted to physically assault him. While the BFF disciplinary committee has taken action against the BPL-related incidents, it has yet to respond to the events in the BCL. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Chairman of the BFF Disciplinary Committee, told Views Bangladesh that disciplinary action is being taken based on match commissioners’ reports, and that tougher measures are on the way.

But it’s not just football that is plagued with misconduct. Even the national karate championship saw violence and chaos. On May 11, the final day of the 29th National Karate Championship at the Mirpur Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium, coaches, officials, and spectators clashed in a violent altercation. Video clips showed people trading punches and kicks. Three individuals were hospitalized with injuries. Moazzem Hossain Sentu, general secretary of the Karate Federation, confirmed to Views Bangladesh that complaints had been received and a meeting would be convened to take immediate action.

It has been reported that the coach of Jhalokathi District, Masum, filed a formal complaint with the federation. According to the complaint, during the -67kg weight class match, players from the Army team, angry over a referee’s decision, launched an assault. Among the injured were former national karate team athletes Rezaul Karim Masum, Syed Rokonnuzzaman Rony, and Billah Hossain.

The alarming rise in violence across sporting events is deeply troubling. It feels as if the unruly atmosphere of the 70s, 80s, and 90s has returned to haunt Bangladeshi sports in 2025. Unless this wave of injustice, lawlessness, and violence is swiftly addressed, many fear that the image and future of the country's sports scene will continue to deteriorate.