One of the reasons behind the ongoing dispute between majority of Bangladesh national women's football team players and head coach Peter Butler is that the language used by the English tactician did not go down well with the booters.
According to the protesting players, it continued to go on for days, even after the matter was informed to the federation on a number of occasions.
The players said there were also instances of “body shaming”, “bad words” and “verbal pokes”.
Finally, they boycotted training and threatened to quit football if Butler stays in his role.
"I don't know what actually happened. I only learned from the newspaper. If the coach said those things, like body shaming or bad words, it’s absolutely unacceptable," former national player, coach and football expert Ghulam Sarwar Tipu told Dhaka Tribune.
"The coach is like a guardian. He rules the players in a different way but it’s unquestionable that he can't use such words and punish wrongly.
"The coach has to earn the command and respect through talks and attitude. It varies man to man but the very first thing a head coach has to do is earn the group’s command and respect. However I don’t know his (Butler) mannerism.
"But, it is never allowed for a coach to use such language. You can't do it. He is a British coach. They are usually more aware of this. I don’t understand why it is happening."
One of the rebel players complained at the press conference that Butler had said goalkeeper Rupna Chakma’s height is “short”.
Tipu stated that it is “'insulting”.
"He (Butler) should have first studied what is our culture, what the players ate in last seven-eight years, where and how they stayed. If he thinks it is like England then it is not right. He couldn’t earn the group command," he said.
Tipu was one of the leading forwards in the 1960s and early 70s.
After retirement, he completed his preliminary and advance coaching courses under Football Association in England in 1980 and 1987 respectively.
He later did “A” coaching course in Germany in 1996.
"The first thing we were taught was loving the game came before professionalism. You also have to get the command of the group. When you stand in front of the players, you have to earn the love and respect. This is the primary thing before starting practice," said Tipu.
Butler could not be reached for comment.
The Bangladesh Football Federation has formed a seven-member special committee to look after the issue.
Whether the coach used those words or the context behind it is a matter of investigation.
But one thing’s for certain, Butler has failed to earn the respect of the players collectively, including the captain and the best ones of the troop.
