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BFF executive sparks storm by calling for coach's resignation 

Published : Sunday, 15 June, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 596
 

 

What began as a routine press conference to outline the Bangladesh Football Federation's (BFF) ongoing activities and future roadmap quickly turned into a dramatic affair, as one of its executive committee members publicly demanded the resignation of national team head coach Javier Fernandez Cabrera.

The press conference, attended by BFF President Tabith Awal and several committee chairmen, was expected to cover key topics such as internal audits and government relations. It was held at a convention hall of Raowa Complex at Mohakhali.

However, it took an unexpected turn when executive member Shakhawat Hossain Bhuiyan Shahin, instead of addressing his designated topic, went off-script and dropped a bombshell.

"I will not comment on audit or government relations today," said Shahin firmly. "As a member of the national team committee, my agenda is clear. I demand the resignation of head coach Javier. This is the voice of 180 million people."

Shahin's abrupt detour from the set agenda left fellow committee members visibly unsettled. The spotlight, meant to focus on administrative transparency and federation policy, suddenly shifted to the embattled Spanish coach. Cracks Showing in the Dugout Cabrera has found himself in the firing line following Bangladesh's 2-1 defeat to Singapore in the Asian Cup qualifiers. People and football officials have been highly critical of his squad selection and in-game strategy, particularly his deployment of key players like Hamza and Rakib out of their natural positions, a move many saw as tactically naive.

The defeat has only amplified fan frustrations, with social media platforms flooded with calls for Cabrera's removal. A growing number of voices, including some within the team, question whether he is the right man to lead players of Hamza and Rakib's quality. There is also talk of internal discontent within the squad, suggesting that Cabrera may be losing the dressing room.

The Spaniard who was a football player and analyst for the Spanish team was appointed as the head coach of the Bangladesh national team in early 2022. So far, he, besides some controversy, did Okay with the team. But his decisions, especially about players positions, kept him a topi of discussion over and over.

However, the BFF President tried to quell the fire quickly. Responding to the unexpected outburst, BFF President Tabith Awal labelled the incident "unfortunate" and attempted to redirect the focus back to the federation's internal process in the press meet.

"This is a premature issue, both in terms of the question and any answer," said Tabith. "We have a standard process. The national team committee will assess and review the situation. Only after that will we be in a position to respond."

Despite the president's attempt to maintain order, Shahin's public rebuke, delivered during a press conference expected to centre on governance and planning, has exposed cracks within BFF's leadership and raised serious questions about internal cohesion. Whether Javier will survive this mounting pressure remains to be seen. For now, both the federation and the fans await the next move in what has become an increasingly tense footballing saga in Bangladesh.

Besides, it is also important to find out why an executive committee member would ditch the topic concerning BFF's internal audits and government relations and wanted to talk about the coach in such a place and time.



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