The AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers begin in Uzbekistan on August 31, and Bangladesh’s under-20 team is preparing to leave the country on August 27 with hopes of reaching the tournament’s main round. But instead of training or team performance, it is an internal rift within the coaching staff that has dominated the conversation. A dispute between head coach Gerrard Jones and assistant coach Atiqur Rahman Mishu escalated into a physical altercation, forcing British coach Jones to call the police to bring the situation under control.
According to multiple people connected with the team, Jones and Mishu had a heated exchange at a hotel in Dhaka last Wednesday. At one point, the situation grew tense enough that the two came to blows. Jones then called the national emergency helpline, 999, to report the matter to police. Officers went to the hotel, though the situation did not escalate further.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has been left embarrassed by the incident. Although it is an age-group team, the under-20 national team represents the country in international competition, raising concern that a lack of coordination between two key coaches could affect the team’s on-field preparation.
Samid Kashem, the team’s manager and a member of BFF’s development committee, said: “We’re working on the matter through the development committee. We expect a proper resolution soon. Our goal is to ensure the footballers get the best possible support so we can bring success to the country.”
This is not the first controversy to surround Gerrard Jones. The English coach previously drew attention over a social media post about a pay dispute, in which he also expressed concerns about his family and personal circumstances. His conduct with some BFF officials had reportedly also caused friction.
Controversy over the Bangladesh under-20 team’s coaching is not new either. Before Jones, questions were raised about the coaching certification and qualifications of British coach Mark Cox, who held the post previously. While there has been no major question over Jones’s qualifications, his conduct has now created fresh unease.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report