Fifa lifts financial restrictions on Bangladesh Football Federation

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is no longer under Fifa's financial restrictions, marking a significant boost for the organisation. The BFF received an official letter from Fifa on 7 March, confirming that the financial constraints imposed since 2018 have been fully lifted.

In a press release, the BFF stated: "Since 2018, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) had been under Fifa's financial restrictions. However, under the leadership of former vice-president Tabith Awal and the current committee, BFF has successfully addressed Fifa's concerns regarding its transactions and financial management. As a result, the financial restrictions imposed by Fifa have been fully lifted as of today."

Previously, non-compliance with Fifa's spending guidelines meant that funds were released to BFF in multiple installments, causing operational hurdles. The BFF secretariat promptly shared the positive news with the federation's executive committee WhatsApp group, offering a sense of relief to the new committee.

The latest development means that BFF will now receive Fifa grants in standard installments, and gain broader access to apply for various developmental programmes. The new general secretary, Imran Hossain Tushar, had made removing BFF from Fifa's financial irregularity list a priority following the ban of former general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag.

The turning point came after a Fifa delegation visited Dhaka in early February to audit BFF's financial practices. The BFF had expected an update by mid-March, but the anticipated good news arrived a week earlier than expected. New president Tabith Awal had also placed significant importance on the Fifa visit, helping to secure this favourable outcome.

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