Federation Cup Final Venue Crisis Deepens As Mohammedan Refuse To Play

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has failed to resolve the scheduling and venue deadlock surrounding the highly anticipated Federation Cup final between Mohammedan Sporting Club and Bashundhara Kings. Although the showpiece match was originally slated to take place today at the Kings Arena, Mohammedan Sporting Club remain steadfast in their refusal to play at the opponents’ home ground.

A high-profile meeting was convened yesterday at the BFF headquarters, where the BFF President, Tabith Awwal, held talks with Mohammedan officials. Representing the club, Mohammedan’s Director of Sports, Mostakur Rahman, explicitly reiterated the club’s uncompromising stance against playing at the Kings Arena.

Mohammedan Demand Neutral Venue

Following the conclusion of the meeting, Mostakur Rahman briefed the media regarding the club’s position, stating:

“I have clearly informed the BFF President on behalf of the club that it is impossible for us to play the final at the Kings Arena. We have requested that any neutral venue be selected as an alternative. What the BFF decides to do now is entirely up to them.”

Rahman further explained that he had briefed the BFF President on the numerous adversities and hostile conditions Mohammedan had previously encountered at that particular stadium. According to the director, the President did not offer an immediate solution, stating instead that he would deliberate with other stakeholders before delivering a final verdict.

Cross-Complaints and Institutional Oversight

In a subsequent press conference, BFF President Tabith Awwal confirmed that Mohammedan are unyielding in their decision to boycott the venue. He noted that the dispute is compounded by cross-complaints from both finalists, highlighting that Bashundhara Kings have raised objections regarding Mohammedan’s home venue in Cumilla.

While Tabith Awwal noted that the Federation Cup draw took place on 13 April, Mohammedan’s Football Manager, Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib, disclosed that the club had registered its objections on the very day of the draw. Nakib stated:

“During the draw ceremony, we stated from the outset that if Mohammedan and Bashundhara Kings reached the final, we would not play at the Kings Arena. We would have no objection to playing there if our opponents were Abahani Limited, but we will not play against Kings on their own turf.”

Chronology of the Venue Dispute

Mohammedan secured their place in the final on 12 May after defeating Brothers Union in Cumilla. According to club officials, before the squad had even departed the pitch, the League Committee abruptly issued a text message announcing that the final would be staged at the Kings Arena. Nakib questioned the necessity of such a hasty notification, given that the club had formally declared its stance weeks prior.

The gravity of the situation escalated further when Mohammedan’s Director-in-Charge, Lokman Hossain, revealed that the club’s President, Member of Parliament Barkat Ullah Bulu, had personally phoned the BFF President to explain their grievances. Furthermore, Mohammedan had dispatched an official letter detailing these systemic issues to the BFF. Club officials argue that had the federation addressed the matter swiftly, the crisis would not have reached its current impasse.

Instead, the BFF failed to recognise the urgency of the matter, and the President departed for Thailand. Upon returning the day before yesterday, Tabith Awwal met with Mohammedan yesterday, only to find the club’s stance unchanged.

Current Status of the Dispute

The core variables of the ongoing Federation Cup final standoff are structured below:

Tabith Awwal stated yesterday that a definitive resolution would be reached last night, adding that he is striving to find a solution that satisfies both entities, considering the preparations of the players and the expectations of the supporters.

The BFF President conceded that the federation should have addressed certain serious issues much earlier. While he refrained from specifying these matters publicly, internal federation sources indicate that the BFF had previously incurred several financial penalties from FIFA due to regulatory and management issues during international matches hosted at the Kings Arena. The federation’s failure to address these concerns at the time has now seen the complications spill over into domestic competitions.