India forced to share SAFF Women’s U19 Championships trophy with Bangladesh due to security threat

The SAFF Women’s Under-19 Football Championships 2024 final on Thursday was marred by bizarre scenes as India were first declared the winner via a coin toss only for the match officials to execute an unprecedented change of decision and declare both India and Bangladesh as joint winners. As per the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Secretary General M Satyanarayan, India were forced to accept decision due to a security threat to the players and team officials at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal (BSSSMK) Stadium in Dhaka. The final of the SAFF Women’s Under-19 Football Championships 2024 between India and Bangladesh finished 1-1 in regulation time followed by a penalty shootout in which all 11 players from both sides converted their chances. The referee then performed a coin toss to determine the winner which was won by India. While the Indian side started to celebrate, the Bangladeshi players were not happy with the result and refused to leave the field of play. The local fans who had turned up to the stadium in big numbers were seen throwing bottles on the pitch and shouting slogans. After more than two hours of waiting, the match commissioner reversed the initial decision decision and declared India and Bangladesh as joint winners. AIFF Acting Secretary General Satyanarayan told the federation website that India accepted the decision on the request of the organisers and for security of the players. “India, despite being declared winners after the spin of the coin, decided to accept the officials’ request for sharing the trophy as the situation was simmering and a section of the home fans was found indulging in creating disturbances. Since the security of the players and other team officials is our utmost priority, the AIFF decided to agree to the request of the organisers,” he was quoted as saying by AIFF. Coming to the match. Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam of India scored the first goal of the match in the eighth minute to give the visitors a lead before Sagorika equalised for Bangladesh in the injury time.