Bangladesh suffered a heavy 10-0 defeat to North Korea at the Asian Games on Monday, with head coach Peter James Butler taking full responsibility for the team’s on-field performance while raising concerns about issues surrounding the squad off the pitch.
Speaking after the match, the English coach said Bangladesh had failed to follow its established principles and deserved the heavy defeat.
“We played outside all of our principles today, which disappointed me. Unfortunately, we lost by a big margin and that is what we deserved,” Butler said. “I take full responsibility for everything that happened on the field. I do not take responsibility for what happens off the field.”
Butler said there were growing problems away from the pitch, including what he described as divisions between senior and younger players. He also questioned aspects of the policy of developing young players.
“There are some problems with what is happening off the field. I cannot control what happens off the field,” he said.
The coach also claimed that some of his approaches to developing the women’s team had faced opposition from within the football administration.
“Perhaps there are many things that are right or wrong about the policy of developing young players. Even the head of the women’s wing does not like my developmental approach to improving my work,” Butler said.
He further raised concerns about communication with players outside official team activities, referring to instances of players allegedly being contacted late at night or being brought into conference calls.
“You cannot build a team like this,” Butler said.
The comments revive concerns Butler has previously raised about internal and external interference following disappointing results for the Bangladesh women’s national team.
Bangladesh will face another formidable opponent in their next Asian Games match, taking on South Korea on September 17.
Butler warned that the next match could present a similar challenge unless significant changes are made.
“The South Korea game may be like what you saw today,” he said. “But we have to go back, make some changes, rebuild the team and see how we can move forward from here.”
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