The much-anticipated youth football clash between Brazil’s São Bernardo Under-20 team and Argentina’s Atlético Charlone Under-20 side, scheduled for Thursday evening at Dhaka’s National Stadium, has been suspended by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The shock decision follows allegations of severe mismanagement, contract violations and an assault on a sports journalist during a previous match of the Latin Bangla Super Cup.
The fixture had been billed as a rare opportunity for Bangladeshi football fans to witness youth sides from two legendary footballing nations compete on home soil. The tournament organisers, AFB Boxing Promotion International Limited, had marketed the event aggressively, claiming it would help “bridge football cultures between Latin America and Bangladesh”. However, that enthusiasm collapsed dramatically.
In an official letter, Ruhul Amin, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, confirmed that the National Stadium booking had been revoked and that the upcoming match must not go ahead. According to the letter, the organisers violated key conditions required for hosting the tournament. These conditions included submitting full ticket sales accounts and handing over 50 per cent of the total ticket revenue to the National Sports Council prior to the start of each match. The organisers were also obligated to clean the stadium facilities at their own expense after each event, a task they reportedly failed to carry out.
Additionally, the ministry stated that the organisers had not provided proper documentation for sponsorship and broadcasting rights. It was stipulated that 50 per cent of earnings from those rights had to be paid to authorities before any match could be played. Officials claim they received no satisfactory response or payment regarding these financial matters.
Matters took a dramatic turn last Monday night when a private security team hired by the organisers physically assaulted a sports journalist during a match at the National Stadium. The ministry described the incident as “extremely regrettable and unacceptable”, noting that several reporters were subjected to harassment by what appeared to be unruly and poorly supervised organisers’ staff.
The letter from the ministry explained: “Management has deteriorated to the point where journalists have been physically humiliated during the 8 December match by disorderly members of the organising committee. In such a situation, the 11 December match shall remain suspended until further notice. Organisers must submit full accounts of ticket sales, sponsorship income and broadcasting revenue from the matches on 5 and 8 December no later than 4 p.m. on 9 December.”
The scandal has also put into question the highly publicised arrival of Brazilian World Cup–winning captain Cafu and Argentine legend Claudio Caniggia, whom organisers claimed would attend the tournament. Their visit, once promoted as a historic moment for Bangladeshi football, now appears highly uncertain.
For fans who bought tickets and looked forward to a thrilling showcase of South American youth football, the sudden cancellation has left disappointment, frustration and unanswered questions surrounding the credibility of sports event management in the country.