| HEADLINE |
|
BFF sacks Gerard Jones, Atikur named interim coach for India clash
Published : Friday, 4 September, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has dismissed British coach Gerard Jones as head coach of the Bangladesh U-20 national football team and terminated his contract.
The decision was announced on Friday as Bangladesh prepares for its final match of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers against India on September 6.
In a statement, the BFF said Jones had been relieved of his responsibilities for the ongoing qualifiers. Assistant coach Atikur Rahman Mishu has been appointed interim head coach for the match against India.
The decision followed Bangladesh’s defeats in their first two matches of the qualifying campaign in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Bangladesh suffered a 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan before going down 3-0 to Syria on Thursday.
Jones was reportedly moved from the team hotel to another location on Friday morning following the defeat to Syria.
The British coach had been involved in several controversies in recent weeks. He had publicly raised concerns over unpaid salaries and was also involved in a physical altercation with assistant coach Atikur at a hotel in Dhaka, prompting police to intervene.
There had also been speculation before the team’s departure for Uzbekistan that the BFF had decided to dismiss Jones, although the federation did not confirm the reports at the time.
Jones had reportedly opposed Atikur travelling with the team to Uzbekistan. However, following BFF intervention, both coaches travelled with the squad. Atikur was not part of the dugout during Bangladesh’s first two matches.
Bangladesh’s performances in the tournament have also come under scrutiny. Although the 2-0 defeat to Uzbekistan was considered a relatively respectable result against a side with World Cup experience, the 3-0 defeat to Syria highlighted the team’s struggles.
With Bangladesh effectively out of contention for a place in next year’s AFC U-20 Asian Cup finals in China, the match against India will now be an opportunity to finish the campaign on a positive note.
Atikur said he had been asked by the BFF to take charge of the final match and would seek to motivate the players despite Bangladesh’s elimination from the qualifying race.
“We have effectively lost the chance to reach the finals, but I will try to motivate the boys as much as possible. We want to beat India and return home,” Atikur said.
-HIS
Loading...
Loading...
Also read
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
