Venue dispute forces dramatic collapse of Federation Cup final

​In an unprecedented and dramatic turn of events just hours before the scheduled Federation Cup 2025-2026 final, Bashundhara Kings have formally requested the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to cancel the match and award the championship to their opponents, Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited.

The bombshell request arrived on Tuesday morning, bringing a bitter and abrupt climax to the venue dispute that has overshadowed the domestic showpiece event, which was originally scheduled to kick off at 5:30pm this Tuesday.

​The final was slated to take place at the Bashundhara Kings Arena.

However, the fixture had been left hanging by a thread after Mohammedan issued a letter to the BFF a few days prior, explicitly stating they would boycott the match if it were held at the Kings' home ground.

Despite emergency mediation efforts lasting until late Monday night, no resolution was reached.

Frustrated by the eleventh-hour chaos and citing a severe lack of respect, the Kings opted to step away from the contest entirely, effectively cancelling the 5:30pm showdown.

​In a letter signed by the club's general secretary Biddut Kumar Bhowmik and submitted to the BFF on Tuesday morning, the Kings management expressed its profound disappointment with the situation, declaring that they value respect far more than adding another trophy to their cabinet. 

The full text of the letter reads:

​We are writing today to discuss a serious topic regarding the Federation Cup 2025-2026. Bashundhara Kings have been an obedient follower of football and the Bangladesh Football Federation. We are helping to grow football in this country, and in several times, we have supported BFF when they were in an adverse situation. We have invested our effort and time to develop the football of this country, its infrastructure, and football governance.

​We as a club, one of the most important stakeholders of football ecosystem abide by its laws, regulations and decisions.

But regarding the Federation Cup 2025-2026 final, the situation of BFF is very much questionable, considering that there is a set of regulations and all the process towards the final was maintained through a proper discussion with stakeholders and circulated in proper time.

​Even on the day of the final, it is not clear if the final will take place or not. This leaves us as a club in a difficult situation. Additionally, we believe it is a disrespectful act of other parties to hinder the progress of football in Bangladesh.

​In this 2025-2026 season, Bashundhara Kings played the Challenge Cup, Bangladesh Football League matches and Federation Cup matches in Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd's home venue Bhasha Shoinik Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium, Cumilla. The stadium facilities, security and fan management was not adequate but still Bashundhara Kings participated in all the games without creating an issue for the Bangladesh Football Federation.

​On this note, we want to express that for a club Bashundhara Kings, we uphold respect as the top priority rather than trophies. We believe there is not much respect left in the situation, so we request to cancel the final and award the champion's medal to the other team of the final.

​The controversy over the venue has sparked questions regarding the logic of Mohammedan's demands. The decision to host the final at the Kings Arena was not a recent development; it was determined via a blind lottery on 13 April, well before the finalists were even decided. Critics have pointed out that Mohammedan had ample time to voice their objections but chose to wait until the eve of the final, creating a logistical nightmare.

​BFF President Tabith Awal had desperately tried to salvage the fixture, holding crisis talks with representatives from both clubs on Monday. Following the meeting, Awal reminded the press that the venue was finalised transparently in front of the media months ago. However, Mohammedan director Mostakur Rahman remained obstinate, stating plainly that his club's firm decision was to avoid the Bashundhara ground.

​Representing the Kings during Monday's talks, coach Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu expressed bewilderment at the late protest, arguing that the Kings Arena boasts the best pitch in the league and noting that such late resistance makes domestic football administration incredibly difficult. With the BFF failing to issue a decisive ruling by Monday night, Bashundhara Kings took matters into their own hands on Tuesday morning, opting to hand over the title rather than participate in what they view as a fundamentally disrespected competition.