Sports Desk:

The club football culture of a country largely determines its strength on the global stage — a pattern evident in the most successful national teams worldwide.

In this regard, Bangladesh lags far behind, and one major reason could be the way the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) manages its top-flight league, the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The lack of professionalism among football clubs in Bangladesh is nothing new. Most clubs don’t have their own stadiums, proper training facilities that provide year-round access to players, and structured youth programs.

Amid these challenges, the BFF seems to be adding to the struggles of BPL clubs as it has suspended the country’s professional football league for seven weeks to accommodate the upcoming international fixture of the Bangladesh national football team.

To make room for the national team’s preparations for the Asian Cup Qualifier against India on March 25, the BPL has been halted until April 10, right after the completion of the league’s 10th round on February 22.

The motive behind this lengthy break appears to be financial.

“BFF runs with financial help from FIFA. One of FIFA’s guidelines states that if a country’s professional league lasts for six months, the federation will receive USD 50,000. Instead of protecting the clubs, the BFF is chasing that allocation,” said Brothers Union manager Amer Khan.

Amer also pointed out that clubs have been struggling to operate, particularly since the country’s change in political landscape following the July uprising has led to shifts in club management across the boards.

Having missed out on the USD 50,000 allocation last season for concluding the BPL just about 10 days short of the six-month mark, the BFF seems determined to secure the funding this time.

The 2024-25 season kicked off on November 29 last year and, according to the schedule, will conclude on May 29 this year — precisely six months.

This timeline makes it clear why the BFF imposed such a lengthy mid-season break, despite clubs requesting a shorter pause that would have helped them manage operational costs during a financial crunch.

A visit to Mohammedan’s club tent in Motijheel painted a stark picture of the crisis.

Mohammedan, one of Bangladesh’s most popular clubs, currently lead the table and are in a prime position to win the league for the first time. Their players were supposed to continue training to maintain momentum, but a gloomy atmosphere hung over the club premises.

“We are really struggling to keep the camp running because of Mohammedan’s financial situation. So, we released all players after our last match and plan to resume training on March 16,” said head coach Alfaz Ahmed, adding that maintaining their lead would be difficult, as the long break could affect player performance.

Meanwhile, at Abahani’s club tent in Dhanmondi, training resumed last Tuesday, maintaining a lively atmosphere. However, financially, the club — one of Mohammedan’s closest league rivals — face the same difficulties as others.

“It’s really challenging to maintain consistent performance. Without regular activity, players lose their peak form. When they stay in training, they remain motivated, but inactivity makes them too relaxed. That’s why we’ve continued training despite financial issues,” said Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu, adding that two foreign players would be joining camp soon.

All the other clubs are either set to resume their training this week, like the five-time champions Bashundhara Kings, or are likely to resume after the Eid-ul-Fitr break due to financial difficulties.

Coaches from various teams have expressed concerns about maintaining the standard of the BPL after such a long break, while club officials continue to struggle to secure funds to sustain training sessions.

As things stand, the BFF appears to be prioritising its financial benefits over the well-being of clubs — raising an important question: Is it justifiable to hinder football development in pursuit of financial gains?

If such decisions persist, Bangladesh’s already underdeveloped club football structure will only deteriorate further.