The Bangladesh Football Federation on Tuesday asked the clubs and players to resolve their internal problems regarding the inter-club player transfer by August 5.
Most of the top footballers have already confirmed their teams for the upcoming season and duly received an amount of their salary before the inter-club player transfer window, which is scheduled to start from August 16.
Motijheel-based Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited recently expressed their desire about constructing a strong team for next season after ensuring the cash-rich Super Cup.
Some problems, however, have recently arisen between the players and the clubs.
Mohammedan earlier provided a token money of Tk 10 lakh each as the first-phase payment to Zahid Hasan Ameli, Ariful Islam, Zahid Hossain, Shakil Ahmed, Mamun Miah and Nahidul Islam.
But besides Ameli and Arif, the other footballers have backtracked from their decision and decided to stay put at their club as they did not receive their second-phase money despite repeated promises from the Black-and-White outfit.
Zahid, Mamun and Nahidul decided to remain at their old club, Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra. Shakil also confirmed his stay at Russell for the forthcoming season.
‘Initially I wished to join Mohammedan and received Tk 10 lakh from them but after that, Mohammedan broke their promise and did not give me the second-phase money. In the meantime, Russell proposed me an attractive contract to remain with them and I have decided not to join Mohammedan,’ said treble-winning Russell’s playmaker, Zahid Hossain.
Shakil also claimed that Mohammedan failed to provide the second-phase money to him so he decided to ply his trade for Russell next season.
‘I kept my commitment but Mohammedan broke it so I chose the other option,’ he said.
On the other hand, Mohammedan stated that the players broke their commitment unlawfully.
‘They [players] received token money from us but after that they took money from the other clubs unethically,’ said Mohammedan team manager Amirul Islam Babu.
It has been learnt that Ariful also decided to join powerhouse Abahani Limited despite getting the first-phase money as Mohammedan failed in their pursuit to keep their promise.
Meanwhile, Russell’s attacking midfielder Mithun Chowdhury also received token money from Abahani but decided to remain with his old club.
Even though the BFF is not responsible for the crisis, they requested the respective clubs and players to resolve the problem themselves.
‘Both parties [clubs and players] are guilty for the mess. Before the player transfer window, if any club signs a contract with any player, it will be deemed illegal,’ said BFF president Kazi Salahuddin after the professional league committee meeting on Tuesday.
‘It is a wrong way for the clubs to give money to the players before the player transfer. On the other hand it is also unexpected that a player, who initially made a contract with a club, then joins another club suddenly,’ he added.
-With New Age input
