Bangladesh women’s football team player Matsushima Sumaya stated to have received “countless death and rape threats” over the past few days.
The SAFF Women’s Championship 2024 winning forward described her situation through a social media post Tuesday, citing that the threats left her in trauma.
“I fought with my parents to pursue football, believing that my country would stand by me. But the reality is different. Nobody truly cares about an athlete’s mental health,” Sumaya wrote on her official facebook profile.
“Over the past few days, I have received countless death and rape threats — words that have shattered me in ways I never imagined,” the statement continued.
“I don’t know how long it will take for me to heal from this trauma, but I do know that no one should have to go through this just for following their dreams.”
Sumaya also informed that despite winning leagues in the Maldives and the SAFF Women’s Football Championship 2024, the journey has been bittersweet to her.
“Ever since I chose this path, my dream was to inspire young students whose parents only wanted them to focus on studies. I wanted to show that passion and dedication can break barriers. But today, I sit here with regret,” she added.
Sumaya is among the 18 footballers of the national women’s team who have boycotted training under English head coach Peter Butler last week.
They listed a series of complaints against Butler and are awaiting Bangladesh Football Federation president Tabith Awal’s response after sending him the letter drafted by Sumaya.
The protesting footballers including Sumaya started copping cyber bullying, abusive words and threats since then, leaving their mental condition in disarray.
