Bangladesh Coach Silent After Heavy 6-1 Loss to South Korea in AFC U-20 Women’s Tournament

In the final group stage match of the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, Bangladesh suffered a 6-1 defeat against formidable South Korea on Sunday, August 10, 2025. While the loss to a powerhouse like South Korea was anticipated, hopes for a draw had emerged among Bangladeshi football fans after Laos held China scoreless for 82 minutes in a previous match, given Bangladesh’s earlier 3-1 victory over Laos.

Typically, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) media team provides the head coach’s post-match reaction within half an hour of the game’s conclusion. In the previous two matches, Head Coach Peter Butler’s comments were promptly shared. However, over two hours after the crucial match against South Korea, no statement from Butler or the BFF media team was provided. Butler had previously described the match as a significant learning opportunity for Bangladesh football, but his insights and the team’s takeaways remain unknown.

South Korea, superior in every aspect, exposed the flaws in Butler’s “high-line” defensive strategy, which he persisted with despite criticism following a conceded goal against Laos. The high-line defense proved ineffective against South Korea’s pace and skill, evident from the match’s outset. Bangladesh’s goalkeeper, Swarna, frequently ventured out of her box to clear balls or thwart attacks, while defenders were repeatedly outmaneuvered, creating multiple goal-scoring opportunities for South Korea. Despite the heavy defeat, post-match media interaction is customary in international football. Although the AFC U-20 Women’s Tournament qualifiers do not mandate press conferences, the absence of a statement from Butler—either due to his refusal or the BFF media team’s failure to collect one—remains unclear. Attempts to contact the team’s media manager, Khalid Mahmud Nowmir, were unsuccessful. British coach Peter Butler often critiques the lack of professionalism and modernity in Bangladeshi football, yet his actions have drawn scrutiny. When the team departed Dhaka for Laos, Butler was the only member not wearing the official travel kit, appearing in casual attire and absent from group photos. His silence after the significant loss is being discussed in football circles as unsporting and unprofessional. On the eve of the South Korea match, media outlets expected a statement from Butler or a player, but the BFF provided only a comment from assistant coach Mahmuda Akter Ananya. Similarly, before the Timor-Leste match, no statements or even footage from the team’s hotel gym or pool were shared, despite ongoing oversight of both men’s and women’s teams by head coaches in media matters.