Financial crisis puts girls' chances of retaining SAFF title in jeopardy

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is under threats of the women's SAFF campaign being sabotaged due to internal conflicts just days before kickoff in Goa.

Despite a highly successful acclimatization camp in Bangkok, internal morale has reportedly collapsed over the federation's sudden decision to withhold national team payments from players receiving institutional salaries or government grants.

The root of the discord lies in the deeply unpopular penalisation of players who receive alternative funding.

During the current financial year, the government issued "Sports Cards" to 300 athletes across two phases—129 initially, followed by a further 171 on 19 April.

Eighteen members of the current SAFF squad in Goa are recipients of this card, which entitles them to a monthly government stipend of Tk1 lakh.

However, it is understood that the BFF is using this state-provided allowance, alongside the modest wages earned by players affiliated with the military, as justification to entirely strip or drastically reduce the federation's own financial support to the squad.

“The deduction seemingly ignores the reality that these domestic players do not benefit from lucrative overseas contracts and rely heavily on their national team earnings,” said one source close to the national team.

The severity of the cuts has shocked the dressing room, with one military-affiliated international reportedly receiving a paltry federation payment of just Tk2,000.

The BFF's alleged refusal to communicate with the squad or provide administrative clarity regarding these sudden financial penalties has fostered widespread anger within a camp that was, until recently, brimming with confidence.

Compounding the toxic atmosphere is a glaring disparity in how the federation remunerates its technical personnel.

While the team's foreign coaching contingent consistently receives their wages on time, local coaching and support staff are reportedly subjected to chronic delays and a litany of excuses regarding their own salaries.

This unequal treatment has created a deeply frustrated environment behind the scenes, further eroding the carefully constructed unity that the coaching staff viewed as a cornerstone of their impending title defence.

The squad arrived in India on Thursday night following a gruelling but tactically sharp final training block under the intense Thai sun, bringing with them a clean bill of health.

Yet, as the contingent prepares to undertake their first training session on Indian soil on Friday, the focus has inevitably shifted from fine-tuning their on-pitch strategy for Monday's opener to managing a disillusioned group.

With players and local staff alike feeling grossly undervalued by their own governing body, serious concerns are mounting internally over whether this avoidable financial standoff has fundamentally sabotaged Bangladesh's chances of securing a regional hat-trick.