Bashundhara Kings escape immediate ban, face suspended sanction

The decision to host matches behind closed doors at Bashundhara Kings Arena will not be enforced for now, as the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has issued a suspended six-match spectator ban. The punishment will only come into effect if similar crowd trouble occurs within the next six months.

The BFF's disciplinary committee had earlier issued a show-cause notice to Bashundhara Kings, asking why they should not face a spectator ban. In their response, the club highlighted its contributions to domestic football and urged the authorities to avoid a harsh decision. The letter also placed blame on rival clubs Abahani, Mohammedan, and their supporters.

Despite initially standing firm on enforcing the punishment, the committee later softened its stance. Practical realities influenced this shift, as Bashundhara Group is not only a major sponsor of the Bangladesh Premier League but also provides the Kings Arena, which is used by the BFF itself.

If no further incidents occur at the venue in the next six months, the suspended ban will be revoked. However, any further disturbances during this period will activate the full punishment immediately.

Meanwhile, Kings defender Sad Uddin has been handed a six-match ban for shoving the match commissioner during their match against Abahani on 2 May. He admitted to losing his temper during the incident.

In a separate event from the second-tier Bangladesh Championship League, action was taken after three City Club officials physically assaulted a referee during a match on 11 May. Six officials from three clubs have been banned for six matches or six months. Additionally, a player and a ball boy were sanctioned, while City Club and two others were fined around 10,000 taka each.