Bangladesh Football League giants Dhaka Abahani Limited have become the latest club to be hit with a FIFA transfer ban, following in the footsteps of their long-time rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club and reigning champions Bashundhara Kings, who are already facing multiple sanctions.
FIFA imposed the ban on Abahani on 3 November, restricting the club from registering new players. According to FIFA regulations, such bans are typically handed down when foreign players or coaches do not receive their contractual payments, prompting them to file complaints with the world governing body. The ban remains in place until the outstanding dues are settled or the complainant withdraws their case.
The 2024-25 season has already been a turbulent one for Abahani. The club had signed several foreign coaches and players before cancelling their contracts in early August. Since then, they have played the first phase of the season under local coach Maruful Haque without any foreign recruits. Insiders believe that one of the previously contracted foreign professionals may have taken the matter to FIFA, leading to the latest sanction. The club has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
This development adds to an unsettling trend in Bangladeshi football, as multiple top-tier clubs find themselves under FIFA scrutiny. Earlier this season, Fakirapul Young Men’s Club were also handed a transfer ban but managed to lift it after paying their dues to an Uzbek player, allowing them to compete in the league.
Shortly after that, Bashundhara Kings, the five-time Premier League champions, were struck with five separate FIFA bans. The sanctions are linked to financial disputes with Romanian coach Valeri Tita and several former foreign players.
Meanwhile, Mohammedan Sporting Club were sanctioned by FIFA on 29 October following a complaint from former Iranian footballer Maysam, who accused the club of breaching financial agreements.
According to the latest FIFA registration ban list, Bangladeshi clubs account for 11 active cases. Bashundhara Kings top the list with five bans, followed by Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club with three, while Abahani, Mohammedan, and Feni Soccer Club each have one.
Although the transfer window for the Bangladesh Football League has already closed, these bans could prove costly if clubs wish to make changes during the mid-season transfer window. Unless the sanctions are lifted by settling the disputes, the affected clubs will be unable to register any new players.
This wave of FIFA disciplinary actions serves as a serious warning for Bangladeshi football’s top teams to uphold professionalism and ensure contractual compliance with foreign recruits in future dealings.
