The career of captain Sabina Khatun-led 18-rebelling women’s national footballers, who continued their boycott to train under English head coach Peter Butler, now under huge threat following the latest stand of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).
As per latest BFF’s latest stand, the 18 women footballers who have been boycotting the national training camp since January 29 demanding the removal of their Head Coach Peter Butler, may miss out on renewed central contracts with the national football federation, currently under negotiation, apart from missing two FIFA international friendlies against the UAE, on February 26 and March 2.
The BFF continues to back Butler, who himself has been happy working with half a squad, just 13 players, mostly the youngsters he kept faith in during last year’s successful defence of the SAFF title.
It remains to be seen whether Butler also believes he can select a full squad with adequate experience at the highest level for the UAE tour, without the 18 who have set out their stall against him. BFF officials were also expecting the negotiations over new central contracts to be sorted out before the tour. The last contracts with 30 players expired in October.
However, the rebelling booters remain adamant about their demand, despite no indication that BFF may sympathise with their views.
Eighteen leading women’s footballers, led by captain Sabina, at a press conference on January 29, revolted against their English coach, issuing a three-page statement addressed to BFF President Tabith Awal, after his contract was renewed for two years.
They raised several allegations against Butler including mental harassment, repression, using abusive words, body shaming, misbehaving, continuous discrimination and unfair treatment.
They alleged that most of the players are frustrated and scared to play under him. In such a situation, it is not possible for them to continue playing football with the coach Peter Butler, who signed fresh a two-year contract with the BFF as the head coach of the women’s national team last month.
The women’s footballers also said that BFF will have to make a choice between the head coach and the footballers as most of the women’s footballers are going to retire together if the head coach stayed.
The rift between the players and Butler started back in October 2024, during the SAFF Women’s Championship in Nepal, alleging the coach preferred young players over seniors.
The problem for the footballers is that the desire to blood new, young talent can hardly be held as a negative against a coach. And Butler was able to lead the team to a successful defence of the SAFF title with his preference for selecting younger players.
The BFF formed a seven-member probe committee on January 30, after the players announced they would boycott all sorts of footballing activities until the BFF terminated their Head Coach’s contract
The special committee submitted its findings to the office of the BFF president last Thursday, after interviewing players, coaches and officials for a week.
Incidentally, Bnagladesh women’s football team won the prestigious Ekushey Padak, the second-highest civilian award in Bangladesh for winning the SAFF Championship on the same day.
BFF President Tabith Awal, who returned home from the UK last Wednesday, held a meeting with the rebel footballers and the coach Peter Butler at the BFF House Thursday night after having the seven-member probe committee reports.
The BFF boss assured the players that their complaints would be considered and encouraged them to join the training camp. He also advised the English coach to engage with the players in a gentle manner.
The players stood firm to their decision and chose not to attend the training camp as per timeline on last Saturday. The 18 players may stay in the camp as they are always welcome to join the camp and ball is in their court now, said a BFF official.
However in a latest development from the ongoing camp on Monday, BFF signed contracts with 36 players for the national women's football teams, with negotiations still on to sign with a further 19 – it is understood the 18 rebels are among those who have not yet signed.