President of the Bangladesh Football Federation Kazi Salahuddin stirred up new controversy on Tuesday by allegedly degrading reporters during an off-the-record conversation with a colleague at the BFF House.
Although his comments were off-the-record as he spoke with his colleagues with the microphones in front of him, the BFF president appeared to make fun of the reporters who went to cover the press conference after an executive committee meeting.
The BFF president was overheard saying: “When journalists enter here, they have to give photos of their parents.” The BFF president has recently been in the spotlight due to a verbal altercation with BCB President Nazmul Hassan and the FIFA ban placed on the federation’s general secretary due to financial irregularities.
The BFF president said, “Another condition is to send a photo of his father wearing shoes,” while vice-president Kazi Nabil Ahmed sat by his side. Okay? It ought to be required. Photographs of the journalist’s father wearing shoes ought to exist.
When challenged about the impartiality of the committee, led by vice-president Nabil, appointed to look into the claims of corruption, the four-time BFF leader reportedly collected himself throughout the question-and-answer session before leaving the press conference with a little tantrum.
“Do you doubt Nabil’s moral character? He is a parliamentarian,” Salahuddin declared.
In an interview with The Daily Star later that day, the illustrious player, however, insisted that he was referring to criteria at another institution and not the BFF.
“I was discussing with Nabil the severe requirements for obtaining membership at the Dhaka Club, where parent photographs are required. Salahuddin stated that it was not about the media but rather the Dhaka Club membership.
The tape recorders in front of me went unnoticed by me. I am not that stupid. The way the discussions are portrayed in the media is not like that. He said, “I’m sorry about it, and I apologize if anyone was upset.