Bangladesh national women's football team head coach, Peter Butler, has threatened to resign, claiming that there is no room for negotiation with rebel players who are boycotting training sessions under him.
鈥楨ither they stay or I stay. Simple as that,鈥� Butler told reporters during a press conference at the Bangladesh Football Federation premises on Wednesday, a day after he called on the special committee to probe the feud between 18 players and him.
鈥楾here has been no negotiation. I have made it very clear to the (higher-ups in the meeting), that there is no (scope of) negotiation. As far as I am concerned, it's about a choice,鈥� he added.
Earlier on January 30, 18 senior players threatened to boycott all sorts of footballing activities and leave the national camp if the BFF kept the Englishman as their coach.
As the rift between Butler and the senior players worsened, the BFF formed a seven-member probe committee on January 30 to listen to all 18 players' and Butler, with the report due to be published today.
It all began in October 2024 when Butler opted for youth by benching several veteran players during Bangladesh鈥檚 SAFF Women鈥檚 Championship winning campaign in Nepal.
Butler termed the SAFF championship incident as 鈥榥onsense鈥� and claimed that a certain number of rebellious footballers are now playing the 鈥榲ictim card.鈥�
鈥業 know this nonsense about we have won this SAFF tournament鈥hey are playing the victim card, which is nonsense. It should be stopped. It has to stop,鈥� he said.听
The 58-year-old coach termed all the allegations against him crazy and baseless.
鈥橧 find it absolutely crazy that they are allowed to do that鈥here are no facts, no truths,鈥� he said.
鈥業've worked with certain individuals who shout obscenities and speak ill truths from a building where the BFF have provided them with food and accommodation鈥 haven't given names. I've said there are a certain number of players who have refused to come to training, they are ringleaders.
听鈥楾hey have got no facts, they speak complete illicit ill truths, and I will not coach certain individuals whilst I'm here. And if it's a choice between them being here and me being here, so be it.听
鈥業'm from the UK. You gotta remember, I'm from the football culture, where if they performed and did things which they had been doing here, they would be upstairs, having their bags packed, they'd be frog marched down the stairs and kicked out into the streets.听
鈥橧 mean, do they understand what it's like to work in a department store, stack shelves, and do menial work? They are lucky girls,鈥� said Butler, who returned to Bangladesh on January 28 after the BFF extended his contract for two more years till December 31, 2026.
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