Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's first ever trip to Bangladesh ended up infuriating the netizens over the surprising refusal to let national football team captain Jamal Bhuiyan meet the World Cup star at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Monday.
Right after Jamal landed in Dhaka after their SAFF Championship campaign in Bengaluru, India where Bangladesh reached the semi-finals following a 14-year gap, Martinez was leaving for Kolkata and the duo had the opportunity to greet each other at the airport.
Jamal, accompanied by a team official, was waiting at the exact place where Martinez's car dropped him along with the organizers involved in the Argentine's visit.
But despite loud calls of “Bangladesh captain” by an anonymous person, a video of which went viral on social media soon afterwards, Martinez proceeded alongside the others, thus disappointing Jamal.
“Jamal was around five feet away and it would have taken only 10 seconds to arrange a handshake with the Bangladesh skipper. It's a matter of shame,” a sports journalist wrote on facebook.
“Throughout the day many were seen taking photos with Emi, which was made possible by the organizers. It would not have been that hard to arrange a handshake, considering that Jamal was waiting just a few feet away.”
“Didn't Martinez realize? If he had realized he should have met Jamal. It's clear from Jamal's face that he was hurt,” commented a social media user.
Jamal later said in a TV interview with a smile, “I just wanted to see his face, nothing else. I just wanted to be confirmed myself whether he is actually in Bangladesh.”
The organizers of Martinez's trip, including one present at the airport during the incident, couldn't be reached over phone for comment.
