Traditional Bangladeshi powerhouse Dhaka Abahani Limited received a major reprieve after world football governing body FIFA lifted its transfer ban on the club. The clearance arrived on Monday after the Dhanmondi-based outfit cleared all outstanding financial dues owed to a Syrian footballer, officially removing their name from FIFA’s registration ban list on the final day of club licensing.
Abahani’s administrative troubles began at the start of last season over unpaid dues to foreign players, prompting FIFA to impose three separate transfer bans. While two of these embargos were lifted earlier, the final sanction remained active due to pending clearance for the Syrian player. With all liabilities now settled, Abahani are cleared to register new players ahead of the upcoming domestic campaign.
However, resolving the administrative impasse has left the club severely lagging in squad assembly. Having spent weeks focusing on clearing their FIFA embargo, club officials now face a race against time to recruit players before the deadline. Making matters worse, several key Abahani players have already opened talks with rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club and Bashundhara Kings. In response to the crisis, Abahani management has formally requested an extension to the player registration deadline.
The administrative logjam across domestic football has already claimed its first casualty. The season-opening Challenge Cup match between Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings and runners-up Abahani, originally scheduled for 21 August, has been cancelled due to both clubs’ ongoing FIFA-related complications. Bashundhara Kings won the previous two editions of the trophy in clashes against Mohammedan.
The domestic football calendar remains under severe pressure, with the Federation Cup scheduled for 25 August and the Premier League kickoff set for 28 August. However, reigning champions Bashundhara Kings remain bogged down by 10 active FIFA bans. During a meeting with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), Kings’ representative and head coach Syed Golam Jilani requested an additional seven working days to resolve their financial disputes, secure club licensing, and register players.
With the overall transfer window closing on 3 September, several clubs have voiced strong objections to the initial 19 August registration cutoff, demanding that player registration remain open until the final day of the transfer window.
FIFA’s ban list currently includes several other Bangladeshi clubs facing similar administrative sanctions, notably Fakirerpool Young Men’s Club, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmandi Club, and Soccer Club Feni. Although Fakirerpool received clearance from local authorities, their active FIFA embargo prevents them from participating in player transfers for the new season.
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