ZCZC
BSP-12
FOOTBALL-BPL
BPL finally abandoned
DHAKA, May 17, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has
finally abandoned this season’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in view of
the coronavirus epidemic, putting an end to all speculations in this regard.
The BFF took the decision unanimously at a virtual emergency executive
committee’s meeting held at its conference room today with federation’s
President Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin in the chair, a BFF press release said.
“The meeting also decided that no promotion or relegation will be
applicable for the participating clubs in this season’s league,” the release
said.
Scrapping of the league means that only Federation Cup champions
Bashundhara Kings will be able to represent Bangladesh in 2021 AFC Cup.
If the league was not abandoned, two teams from Bnagladesh could represent
in AFC Cup. In that case Bangladesh has lost one quota following the BFF’s
decision.
The meeting also decided not to stage this season’s Independence Cup Soccer
Tournament due to coronavirus pandemic, the release added.
BFF senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy, BFF vice president Tabith
Awal, members Iqbal Hossain, Fazlur Rahman Babul, Amit Khan Shuvro, Zakir
Hossain Chowdhury and Mahfuza Akter Kiron and BFF general secretary Abu
Nayeem Sohag were present at the meeting.
While BFF vice president Kazi Nabil Ahmed, members Showkat Ali Khan
Jahangir, Amirul Islam Babu, Harunur Rashid and Satyajit Das Rupu, Arif
Hossain and Mohiuddin Ahmed Selim joined the meeting through videoconference.
Earlier, BFF sought a guideline from Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
regarding the fate of the BPL.
On April 25 last, the Professional Football League Committee (PFLC), which
runs the BPL, at an emergency meeting bestowed the responsibility on BFF
executive committee to decide the future of the league.
The PFLC’s decision came after it postponed the BPL for an indefinite
period in view of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
BSS/SG/SH/1808 HRS