Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has been officially sanctioned by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), incurring a fine of 1500 US dollars due to a two-minute delay in the kick-off of the second half during Bangladesh's recent Asian Cup Qualifier fixture against Singapore. The match in question took place on June 10th at the National Stadium in Dhaka.
Details of the penalty were outlined in a circular released by the continental football governing body, dated July 17th. The AFC's statement explicitly confirmed that the second half of the crucial qualifier commenced at least two minutes later than its officially scheduled time.
This breach of protocol falls under Article 2.2 of the AFC Competition Operation's Official Countdown regulations, which dictates strict adherence to match timings to ensure smooth proceedings of international fixtures.
The circular further stipulated the terms of the fine, instructing the BFF to remit the 1500 US dollars within a period of 30 days from the date of imposition. Beyond the immediate financial penalty, the AFC issued a stern warning to the Bangladeshi football authority. The continental body made it clear that any future recurrence of a similar nature – specifically, a delay in match kick-off or any other breach of the Official Countdown Article – would result in a "heavier sanction." This serves as a strong deterrent, underscoring the AFC's commitment to maintaining strict discipline and professionalism in its competitions. The incident highlights the importance for national federations to meticulously manage all aspects of matchday operations, ensuring that international standards nd protocols are consistently met.
