Bangladesh had been disqualified in the Special Olympic Unified Football tournament following confusions over a player’s jersey.
The disqualification came moments before Bangladesh team were set to play against Russia in the tournament’s semi-final.
The numbering of all jersey went well except one. As the Jersey no. 12 was not was printed the team handwrote the number on the kits and used it throughout the event.
After the group phase, the France team complained to the organizers resulting a direct disqualification for Bangladesh.
As Bangladesh was out of the event, France replaced the South Asian nation and eventually emerged as the champion of the tournament.
Special Olympic National Director Faruqul Islam told Bangla Tribune, “I didn’t understand how such mistake occurred. The players, of course, had their kits.”
“Team officials can’t avoid the responsibility,” Islam warned before adding Bangladesh lost a good opportunity in the Unified tournament.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune from Chicago, Bangladesh team Forward Mahabubur Rahman said, “We heard the news before arriving in the venue. We were prepared for the semi-final. But France took the chance on the complexity over a jersey numbering.”
“We were disqualified in face of their (France) objection and France became the champion,” lamented Rahman.