The ongoing rift between national women's football coach Peter Butler and 18 senior players remains unresolved, yet the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has proceeded to sign contracts with 36 footballers.
The official contract signing took place on Monday, though the federation has yet to issue any formal statement regarding the matter.
As of October 30, 2024, 31 footballers were under contract with BFF. Among them, Anai Mogini did not join the current camp, while 18 others, including key players like Sabina, Sanjida, and Krishna, have been boycotting training under Butler.
In response, BFF has filled the squad with 12 senior players and youth footballers from BKSP and the Army team. Most of the newly contracted 36 players are from junior teams.
Despite the contract dispute, there is still a possibility for the 18 dissenting players to be included in BFF’s agreement.
According to sources, their contracts are ready, and they will be offered if they agree to return to training under Butler. However, Sabina and her group remain firm in their decision to boycott.
BFF’s decision to proceed with new contracts before resolving the dispute has reportedly deepened the frustration of the protesting players.
BFF has also faced criticism for failing to pay contracted players on time over the past two years. If Sabina and her teammates return, the number of contracted players will exceed 50, raising concerns within the federation about whether BFF has the financial capability to pay so many players each month.
