The Bangladesh Football Federation is still uncertain of national custodian Aminul Haque could play in the Asian Games football.
The custodian was sent off in the 37th minute of the AFC Challenge Cup match against Sri Lanka on February 20 in Sri Lanka.
The Asian Football Confederation later sent a letter to the Bangladesh Football Federation confirming Aminul’s penalty.
A direct red card usually means at least one-match suspension and depending on the offence, the suspension may apply to three matches.
It is still uncertain if the suspension would apply to the Asian Games as it is not an AFC event.
Aminul was included in the preliminary squad of the Asian Games as one of the four senior players and he has been doing practice with the national team at the BKSP for a few days.
But no one in the football federation knows whether Aminul could play the Asian Games match as the disciplinary committee decision regarding Aminul could not be known.
The draw of Asiad may see Bangladesh pitted in a three-team group with only two matches to play in the group phase and if it so happens, it is not logical to include Aminul in the squad for only one match.
An AFC letter on Aminul’s position reached the football federation a few days ago but it remained locked in the cabinet of Abu Naeem Shohag, the manager of the professional league and clubs is attending training in Sri Lanka.
Monirul Islam, the secretary of the BFF referees committee, was unable to clarify the position. ‘We need to read the letter first. We will then be able to clarify Aminul’s position. We will clear the air as early as possible.’
Badal Roy, the chairman of the national team management committee, resented the federation’s ignorance of Aminul’s position. ‘We will discuss the matter on Wednesday and make a decision. If Aminul can play only one match, there no reason for us to take him to China,’ Badal said.
