Sports Desk

The longest serving president of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin finally decided not to contest in the upcoming BFF election slated for October 26.

Former celebrated footballer Kazi Salahuddin, who acted as BFF president for an uninterrupted period of 16 years since 2008, made this announcement at a hurried arranged press conference at the BFF House Saturday afternoon.

Kazi Salahuddin, also the president of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), on his decision to step down from the hot seat of BFF said, " I have served BFF for four consecutive terms, I considered myself enough lucky to get the opportunity, now have decided not contest in the next month's BFF election, this is my final decision, I want to thank everyone for working with me over past 16 years".

However, Salahuddin did not elaborate on the reasons for his stepping down. Sources said, family pressure played the key role of his fresh decision.

After the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, Football supporters forum "Ultras" demanded the resignation of Kazi Salahuddin and held demonstrations in front of the BFF house giving him an ultimatum to resign.

Defying their demand, Kazi Salahuddin on August 13 said he would not resign, rather will contest in the BFF election again to serve a fifth term'.

"I am not an ordinary person. I have a long football background, having represented and captained the national team. I am also a freedom fighter and have received national sports awards, the independence award, the liberation award, and the Sheikh Kamal Lifetime Achievement Award during the regimes of Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad, Khaleda Zia, and the Awami League. I will leave football on my terms, not due to threats," he added.

"If they are so popular, they should run in the ensuing elections themselves. Why are they so concerned about me? If I am a failure organiser, the councillors would not vote for me. I was first elected BFF president against Awami League organisers," he claimed.