The 11th edition of the Professional Football League might be going to have some of its real character when the Bangladesh Premier League matches of the coming season will take place at least five and at best eight venues across the country and the matches will take place three days in a week and rest of the four days for team’s travel from one venue to another.
The league will not be interrupted for the coming national pool, as the general secretary of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Abu Shohag told the reporters on Thursday.
Meanwhile, 13 teams have already applied for eight venues and BFF have one reserved venue when six times champions and the holders Abahani Limited, three times champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club, who yet to taste the Championship of the Professional Football League, choose Bangabandhu National Stadium as their home venue.
The Independence Cup Football champions Arambagh and Saif Sporting Club applied for Mymensingh Stadium, Rahmatganj and Brothers for Birsreshtha Kamlapur Stadium, or Goplaganj Stadium, Sheikh Russel and Muktijoddha, newcomers Bashundhara Kings applied for Nilphamari Stadium, NOFEL for Noakhali, or MA Aziz Stadium in Chattagra, BJMC and Chattagram Abahani wanted Rajshahi Stadium as their home venue.
This is the first time that the league matches will take place at eight venues when all the league matches of the last season were held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. But the FIFA and the AFC strictly directed the BFF last year that matches of the professional league would have to organise at least five different venues.
But the application of the clubs not ensure that their home venue confirmed when the Professional League Committee of the BFF will visit the venues and submit report to BFF executive committee, who will sanction the venues.
The final decision regarding all the issues of starting the Federation Cup, League and about venue will come from the next meeting of the Professional Football League Committee to be held on Monday.