Bangladesh women's football team has been caught in turmoil following a dispute between national team coach Peter Butler and several senior players.
The controversy has ignited widespread debate on social media, with SAFF champions such as Sabina Khatun, Rituparna Chakma, and Matsushima Sumaiya at the center of the conflict.
Amid this crisis, Sumaiya has revealed that she has been receiving rape and death threats. The Japanese-origin footballer shared her distress in a Facebook post, detailing her struggles in becoming a professional player and the mental toll these threats have taken on her.
Sumaiya reflected on her journey from playing inter-school football to winning a league title in the Maldives and helping Bangladesh secure the SAFF Women's Championship in 2024.
She expressed her disappointment, stating that she sacrificed her education, family time, and personal celebrations for a country that she feels does not appreciate the struggles of its athletes.
Reports indicate that Sumaiya played a crucial role in drafting a formal letter in English, voicing her teammates’ grievances against coach Butler to Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Tabith Awal. Following this, she became the target of online abuse and violent threats.
She expressed her heartbreak over the situation, saying she once believed her country would support her, but the reality has been different.
She highlighted the lack of concern for athletes' mental health and described the threats as deeply traumatizing. Sumaiya concluded by stating that no one should have to endure such abuse just for following their dreams.