The mood was tense at the Dhaka National Stadium after Bangladesh fell 1–0 to Malaysia in their first match of the tri-nation series. Yet it was not the defeat alone that troubled head coach Peter Butler. What concerned him more were the “characters” he believes are creating unrest within the squad.
Preparing for the Asian Cup in Australia, Bangladesh wanted a confident start. Instead, their evening unravelled both on and off the pitch. Malaysia, ranked higher, edged ahead in the 29th minute after exploiting Bangladesh’s high defensive line. A moment of hesitation from goalkeeper Rupna Chakma proved decisive.
Butler defended his players, especially Rupna, saying she had rescued the team repeatedly in the past. But he admitted some players lacked full concentration—something he linked to external influences.
“I know why certain players did not perform with full focus. When you have troublemakers hovering around the team, it becomes incredibly hard for developing players like Mamoni and Sagarika,” he explained.
While he stopped short of accusations, his comments revived talk of old feuds and previous divides within the squad. Butler suggested that some individuals close to current players were deliberately fostering dissatisfaction.
Still, he carried the responsibility squarely on his shoulders. He praised his side’s football yet lamented the inability to convert chances.
In a surprisingly candid moment, Butler revealed he was even willing to leave his position if that would help restore calm. “If stepping aside resolves the problem, I will not hesitate,” he said. “But the players must keep faith in themselves and continue doing the right things.”