FIFA addressed code of ethics, not financial irregularities, says BFF boss

Bangladesh football has once again hogged the spotlight for all the wrong reasons as FIFA handed a two-year ban to Abu Nayeem Shohag on Friday, accusing the general secretary of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) guilty of corruption while handling financial transactions in several cases.

Soon after, FIFA published a detailed 51-page report of their investigation.   

"We all gathered here today following bad news: that the Bangladesh Football Federation general secretary has been banned for two years. As you received the document yesterday, I also found out yesterday. I read the documents yesterday, today too, but could not finish," the BFF president Kazi Salahuddin told the media on Saturday, adding that he would let the media know after he discusses the matter with FIFA on Monday and the BFF senior members and two of its vice presidents, who are currently abroad.  

Meanwhile, Shohag has told the BFF boss that the ban he received was "unfair."  

"I spoke to Shohag last night about the decision the [FIFA's] Ethics Committee made. He told me that he [Shohag] felt that the decision of the Ethics Committee was unfair to him, and told me that he will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sports," Salahuddin informed.

Asked about the financial transaction-related discrepancies involving the BFF in the FIFA report, Salahuddin said:

"They [FIFA] did not mention financial irregularities but FIFA's report addressed the code of ethics and responsibility … There is nothing to hide but before I say anything, I have to sit down with everyone and decide."  

Youth and Sports Ministry 'will not unnecessarily interfere'

Zahid Ahsan Russel, the state minister for Youth and Sports, said the ministry will "not interfere unnecessarily" and instead are "waiting for FIFA" to give the green signal on how to proceed in this case.  

 "The [BFF] General Secretary has placed us in crisis, so we will not interfere unnecessarily. However, if FIFA requests, we are ready to cooperate and, if needed, investigate," Russel told reporters on Saturday.

"We, on behalf of the government, don't want to interfere, or do anything prematurely. We are waiting for FIFA, who are doing everything at the moment," he reiterated.