Pintoo demands Salahuddin apology

Zakaria Pintoo, captain of Swadhin Bangla Football Team, yesterday denied allegations of receiving money from the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin before the 2012 BFF elections.

Pintoo claimed that the allegations brought by the BFF boss are baseless and he also demanded an apology from the BFF boss during a press conference under the banner of 'Save The Sports' at the Mohammedan Sporting Club premises.

Earlier, the BFF boss claimed that Pintoo asked him for funds to withdraw the nomination paper of the president post in the 2012 BFF election.

“According to FIFA rules [actually AFC] anyone who is aged above 72 is ineligible to take part in the president post of the elections,” the veteran footballer said. “That time [in 2012] I was 73, so I decided to withdraw my nomination paper. I never took any money from Salahuddin.”

“As the captain of Swadhin Bangla Football Team at the age of 77 I had to hear this slander. He [Salahuddin] has to apologise for his baseless speech against me,” said Pintoo.

However, former footballer Moyeenuddin, who is the younger brother of Pintoo, admitted that he took money from Salahuddin several times.

“Before the 2012 BFF elections, I was forced by Salahuddin to take Tk 25,000 after my elder brother withdrew his nomination paper,' said Moyeen.

“After that another person offered me Tk 2 lakh, which I declined, but Salahuddin again forced me to take Tk 50,000. I took the money but my brother [Pintoo] didn't take any money.”