Salahuddin takes a dig at journalists, then says sorry

Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin courted fresh controversy on Tuesday by apparently humiliating journalists in an off-the-record chat with his colleague at the BFF House.

The BFF president apparently had a dig at the journalists who went to cover the press conference following an executive committee meeting, although his words were off the record as he was talking with his colleagues with the microphones in front of him.

The BFF president, who has been in hot water in recent times, firstly, following a verbal beef with BCB president Nazmul Hassan and then coming under more criticism due to the FIFA ban on the federation's general secretary over financial irregularities, was heard saying: "When journalists enter here, they have to give photos of their parents."

With vice-president Kazi Nabil Ahmed sitting by his side, the BFF boss was further heard saying: "Another condition is to send a photo of his father wearing shoes. Okay? It should be mandatory. There should be pictures of the journalist's father wearing shoes."

The four-time BFF boss apparently gathered himself during the question-and-answer session before ending the press conference with in a bit of a fit, when he was asked about the neutrality of the committee, headed by vice-president Nabil, formed to investigate the allegations of corruption.

"Are you questioning Nabil's integrity? He is a member of Parliament," Salahuddin said.

The legendary footballer, however, claimed he was alluding to requirements at another institution and not the BFF, when talking to The Daily Star later in the day.

"I was talking with Nabil about the strict eligibility for getting membership at the Dhaka Club, where photos of parents are mandatory. It was about the Dhaka Club membership and not regarding the journalists," Salahuddin claimed.

"I didn't notice the tape recorders in front of me. I'm not that foolish. The way the talks are being represented in media are not like that. I'm sorry about it and if anyone is hurt, I apologise," he further said.