FIFA’s letter gives BFF much to ponder

FIFA advised the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to not hold its elections until the situation improves after rumours that the BFF's FIFA-extended executive committee was allegedly preparing for polls despite the coronavirus pandemic.

"Yesterday [Tuesday], we received a letter from FIFA wanting to know about our AGM as they have received a lot of correspondence [from Bangladesh]. They wrote that it would be unwise to hold the elections until the health and sanitation situation in Bangladesh improves," BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag told The Daily Star, adding that FIFA also asked the BFF to inform it about the latest updates regarding the AGM and elections.

On March 27, the BFF bowed to growing demand from delegates and incumbent executive members and postponed its polls, originally scheduled to be held on April 20, just 10 days before the expiration of the Kazi Salahuddin-led committee.

FIFA later extended the timeframe to hold the BFF's AGM and elections by reinstating the current executive committee, which was asked on March 31 to hold the elections as soon as the situation allows. Despite postponing the elections, the BFF continued to prepare the delegates'/voters' list by extending the deadline to submit delegates' forms till June 7.

Incumbent vice-presidents Badal Roy and Mohiuddin Ahmed Mohi wrote to FIFA to stop the elections amidst the pandemic and alleged that the BFF violated its constitution while preparing the delegates' list.

FIFA's Ethics Committee's investigatory chamber replied to Roy and Mohi, saying they showed commitment to FIFA's values and principles. It also mentioned that they would communicate with them to get more information and that the chairperson of the investigatory chamber may initiate a preliminary investigation at her discretion.

In the meantime, some clubs and organisations alleged that the BFF secretariat was attempting to buy delegates by offering money. Those clubs and organisations also claimed that they were deprived of delegation forms despite providing all necessary documents as the BFF saved the forms for their earmarked candidates.

The Dhaka DFA got a 30-day stay order from a High Court bench on June 10 in regards to a letter from the BFF that asked the body to stop its scheduled polls in March. BFF president Kazi Salahuddin, general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag and the secretary of the youth and sports ministry were show-caused, asking why that letter should not be declared illegal.

The Khulna DFA also filed a writ petition against the BFF elections, while other agitated organisers appear ready to take legal action against the irregularities in the delegates' processes.

After 15th June, the BFF's executive committee was scheduled to meet and discuss whether to hold the elections and approve the voters' list. But after receiving the letter from FIFA, the BFF secretariat is now thinking over that meeting.