Footballers of Bangladesh Premier League rallied to the football federation Saturday afternoon with a 7-point demand, including exclusion of foreign players in the upcoming season due to the ongoing situation in the sports fraternity following the fall of Awami League government.
The points given by the players are –
1. Assurance to defer BPL transfer window (already approved by the BFF after FIFA’s green signal).
2. Participation of every team in the league must be ensured.
3. Below par league cannot be run.
4. Who will take the responsibility of the players of the team that will not play?
5. This year the league should be run without foreign players.
6. Sponsors who have previously sponsored a club must be arranged to look after the club again.
7. Arranging a meeting between all the players and the adviser of the Ministry of Youth and Sports by Sunday.
According to reports, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra are unlikely to take part in the forthcoming football season while Chittagong Abahani Limited and newly-promoted Wanderers Club are also in major doubt.
If the clubs withdraw, players are going to be the main victims.
Ashraful Islam Rana, Shahidul Alam Sohel, Tawhidul Alam Sabuj, Rezaul Karim Reza, Emon Mahmud Babu, Raihan Hasan, Rahmat Mia, Shakil Ahmed, Riyadul Hasan Rafi, Omar Babu, Mehdi Royal, Mannaf Rabbi, Aminur Rahman Sajib and Monayem Khan Raju were among 50 footballers who came to the BFF to submit their demands.
They announced they would gather again at the same place with former players Sunday.
In response, BFF’s general secretary Imran Hossain Tushar said: “I have heard the demands of the players. We will talk to the clubs and try to resolve this quickly. Apart from this, I will take arrangements for the players to meet the honorable youth and sports adviser.”
