Matsushima Sumaya, a member of Bangladesh’s SAFF-winning women’s national football team, lodged a General Diary (GD) at Motijheel Police Station in the capital on Wednesday after she reportedly received death and rape threats in recent days.
Media Manager of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Khaled Mahmud Nowmee was present at the time.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Sumaya expressed her distress: “Over the past few days, I have received countless death and rape threats—words that have shattered me in ways I never imagined.”
Her statement comes amid an ongoing dispute between national team players and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) over the head coach Peter Butler. Eighteen out of 30 national team players, including Sumaya, have boycotted the training camp, demanding Butler’s removal.
National women’s booters threatened to boycott all football activities and quit the national camp unless the BFF removed head coach Peter Butler. They also threatened to retire if their demands were not met.
Soon after her remark, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) strongly condemned the threats and harassment targeting Sumaya. The BFF said they asked the authorities concerned to take immediate and appropriate action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, the BFF, which formed a seven-member probe committee last Thursday to investigate the complaints of national women’s footballers against their British coach Peter Butler, is scheduled to submit its report to the BFF President by Thursday (6 February).