The Socceroos’ World Cup qualifier in Bangladesh next month was thrown into doubt on Thursday when Football Federation Australia officially notified FIFA of their security fears, reports AFP.
With Cricket Australia called off their two-Test tour of Bangladesh on Thursday citing security concerns after official warnings that militants may attack Western interests, Australia’s football chiefs announced their own concerns about playing in the South Asian nation.
The group-topping Socceroos are due to take on Bangladesh in Dhaka on November 17.
The death of an Italian aid worker in Dhaka’s diplomatic quarter — shot three times on Monday night in a murder claimed by Islamic State group — escalated safety fears.
‘FFA is concerned about the security situation in Bangladesh and will continue ongoing discussions with DFAT, relevant government agencies and security experts,’ the body said.
‘FFA has formally raised the matter with FIFA and AFC (Asian Football Confederation).’
The Socceroos faced heightened security issues around their September World Cup qualifier in Dushanbe, capital of troubled central Asian nation Tajikistan.
The Bangladesh Football Federation, however, remained unperturbed as world football’s governing body FIFA or the Asian Football Confederation did not inform them anything about the issue.
‘We are not concerned about the media report,’ BFF’s general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag told reporters on Thursday.
‘Neither FIFA, nor the Asian Football Confederation have informed us anything about the matter. So, at the moment we will not make any comments about it.
‘We can only say that we are working on to host the match on the scheduled date of November 17.
‘We will take all the necessary steps to give the Socceroos our best hospitality including top class security, what we usually provide to all the visiting teams.
‘We have already hosted three World Cup and Asian Cup joint qualifying matches successfully at home and also going to host the AFC under-19 Championship Qualifiers starting from tomorrow [Friday].’
-With New Age input
