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Sports Desk, June 02, 2025 : Ahead of the Bangladesh-Singapore football match, the atmosphere is charged with excitement. However, before the action unfolds on the field, tensions have flared outside the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) House. Protesting the unavailability of tickets, the country’s prominent supporter group, ‘Football Ultras,’ has been staging a sit-in in front of the BFF headquarters since Sunday afternoon.
Holding placards with the message, “We want tickets, or there’s no football,” around 20 Ultras members have gathered at the main gate of the BFF House. With slogans, peaceful protests, and a resolute sit-in, they have created a striking scene around the federation’s premises.
The Football Ultras have been the unwavering soldiers of the stands for over a decade, standing by the team through thick and thin, celebrating victories and enduring defeats. However, this time, they are disheartened. They claim their earlier requests and letters for tickets have been ignored by the BFF. Two months ago, they applied for advance tickets in exchange for payment but received no response. Recently, when the BFF offered them just 100 tickets, the Ultras rejected the proposal, calling it insufficient and an insult to their demands.
For the first time, the BFF opted to sell all tickets online through a platform called ‘Tickify.’ However, the process was marred by issues. A cyberattack rendered the platform dysfunctional for hours, leaving many fans unable to secure tickets despite their efforts. Yet, the BFF announced that all tickets were sold out, fueling further frustration.
The fans’ anger has now turned toward both the BFF and its ticketing partner, Tickify. Even BFF Vice-President Fahad Karim, previously praised for bringing in diaspora players, is now facing criticism over ticket distribution and transparency issues.
Other supporter groups, including the ‘Bangladesh Football Supporters Forum,’ have also voiced similar frustrations. These fans filled the galleries during football’s lean years. Now, as the national team sees a resurgence with stars like Hamza Choudhury and Samit Som, these loyal supporters feel neglected by the BFF.
The federation has yet to issue an official response. While the protesters have not been obstructed, BFF officials have been seen entering the building through a back gate. The silence from the federation only amplifies the fans’ grievances and demands.
A football match is not just a battle among 22 players on the field; it is brought to life by the cheers, flags, and applause from the stands. Without tickets, the spirit of this celebration remains incomplete.
AI/MR
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