AFC Fines the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) despite a landmark result on the pitch. Bangladesh ended a 22-year winless run against India with a memorable victory in the Asian Cup qualifiers at the National Stadium in Dhaka on November 18, thanks to a crucial goal from Sheikh Morsalin.
However, celebrations were dampened when the Asian Football Confederation imposed a financial penalty on BFF. “The result was historic, but discipline off the field remains equally important,” noted officials familiar with the ruling.
Late Second-Half Entry Triggers Penalty
AFC Fines BFF for a procedural violation during the second half of the match. Bangladesh returned to the field one minute and 43 seconds late after the interval, breaching Article 2.2 of the Competition Manual. As a result, the Disciplinary Committee imposed a fine of $1,250, equivalent to around 150,000 Bangladeshi taka.
The federation has been instructed to clear the fine within one month, following a decision taken at the AFC Disciplinary Committee meeting held earlier this week. “Teams are expected to follow matchday regulations strictly,” the AFC reiterated in its disciplinary summary.
Repeat Offence Raises Concern
AFC Fines have now been imposed on BFF for similar incidents in recent months. Bangladesh were previously penalised $1,500 for a late return in their match against Singapore on June 10. Although no such issue occurred against Hong Kong, the problem resurfaced during the India fixture.
The AFC highlighted the repeated nature of the offence in its punishment list, underlining the need for improved matchday discipline despite Bangladesh’s encouraging on-field progress.
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