Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Kazi Salahuddin believes the pre-season club player transfer commitment is not a one-way process and the clubs' involvement in the process should also be scrutinized.
Earlier, BFF set a deadline of August 5 to settle the issues, if any, between the players and the clubs and said the federation will not take any responsibility if a player falls in any trouble during the official players' transfer. The press release also said if the problem is not settled then the player would be punished.
BFF's decision seems to be a one-way process as the players are destined to be the victim only. At the moment there are reportedly six players who are among the tug of war. The players are winger Zahid Hossain, forward Mithun Chowdhury, defender Mamun Miah, midfielder Nahidul Islam, winger Shakil Ahmed and defender Ariful Islam who have allegedly taken money from two clubs before the official players' transfer scheduled to be held next month. Sheikh Russell and Dhaka Mohammedan are the leading clubs in the dispute.
Mohammedan reportedly provided a token money of Tk1m as the down-payment to Zahid Hasan Emily, Ariful Islam, Zahid Hossain, Shakil Ahmed, Mamun Miah and Nahidul Islam.
But apart from Emily and Ariful the other footballers took a 'U-turn' from their decision as Zahid, Mamun and Nahidul decided to remain at their old club, Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra. Shakil also confirmed his stay at Russell for the forthcoming season.
BFF's decision to punish only the players created anxiety among the players and one of them, seeking anonymity, said the players never would have received the money if the clubs did not approach them. "They came to me with the money and asked me to take it as a down payment and to take the remaining amount one month later, but they did not give the money. Now I will return the money and will sign the contract with the club who fulfils my requirement. If I am guilty of taking the money, the clubs are not angels to give me the money," said the footballer.
Salahuddin also wanted to dig the clubs involvement out. "The clubs role also should be scrutinized, the pre-season commitment is not a one-way process and both the parties' role should be checked out by the relevant committee. The players should not be the scapegoats," said Salahuddin.