Saif want foreign referees ‘for the betterment of football’

Saif Sporting Club demanded the appointment of foreign referees in the crucial matches of the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League during a press conference today.

Also, Saif SC want the executive committee members of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to be disallowed in the dugout during matches.  The two aforementioned demands have resulted following the Federation Cup semi-final, in which Saif claimed that they were victimised by the local referee against Abahani.

"I'm not speaking about it without any knowledge. I want to tell you that we have been victimised by an ugly and disgusting decision from the referee," Saif SC managing director Nasiruddin Chowdhury told the reporters at a press conference today.

"They shouldn't do it against Saif, a highly professional and disciplined side. We've already asked the Bangladesh Football Federation why such a decision was given against us. We will determine things soon after we get the answers from the federation," Nasiruddin informed further.

On Wednesday, Saif were leading 2-1 against Abahani in Fed Cup semifinal at one stage and earned a penalty in the 80th minute. However, referee Saymon Hasan cancelled out the penalty conversion of Rwandan Emery Bayisenge, citing the illegal feigning laws in which feigning to kick the ball once the player has completed his run-up is considered an infringement of Law 14 and an act of unsporting behaviour for which the player must be cautioned.

Saif eventually lost the match by a 4-3 shootout after the regulation and extra-time ended 3-3.

"The appointment of foreign referees in the league matches is not only our demand. I think it's a demand from 30 clubs. We don't want expensive referees, rather, we think the football federation can hire referees from India, Maldives and Nepal," opined Nasiruddin.

"For the betterment of football, we don't want anyone to raise questions over referees' decision.

"We want everyone to remain free from the conflict of interest. Whatever we say, there will be some pressure on the referees when a member of the BFF executive committee sits in the dugout. To eliminate the pressure, no BFF executive member should be allowed in the dugout," the managing director concluded.