Baridhara, Feni relegated

Feni Soccer Club and Uttar Baridhara Club have been relegated from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to the Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) after both teams refused to take part in the relegation-deciding play-off matches on January 4 and 7.

The disciplinary committee also imposed monetary punishments on both teams.

“As per the disciplinary code, Feni Soccer Club and Uttar Baridhara Club have been relegated to the Bangladesh Championship League after they failed to turn up to play both fixtures of the play-off. Both teams have also been fined Tk 5 lakh each under article 52 of the disciplinary code,” said Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag after a meeting.

“If both teams fail to deposit the fine within one month, then the matter will be referred to the disciplinary committee again,” said Shohag.

Feni Soccer Club and Uttar Baridhara had shared bottom place in the 12-team BPL and were supposed to take part in a play-off to decide which team would be relegated. However, both teams appealed to the BFF president to keep them in the top-flight, a request that was refused. They then expressed their desire to not play in the play-off to the chairman of the professional football league committee. Subsequently, they were absent for both play-off fixtures at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

The disciplinary committee also fined BCL champions Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club one lakh taka for threatening match referees as well as officials at the close of their match against Saif SC on January 2. Satkhira Football Association were fined the same amount for withdrawing their women's team from the JFA U-14 Women's Championship from the semifinals.