“Nobody truly cares about an athlete's mental health.”
Bangladesh women’s football team player Matsushima Sumaya has come forward with a harrowing revelation.
She shared that she has received numerous death and rape threats over the past few days.
The threat came after the team’s accusations against their coach, Peter Butler.
In an emotional Facebook post, she expressed the immense toll the abuse has taken on her.
Sumaya stated that the words directed at her had “shattered” her in ways she never imagined.
Her post comes at a time of growing turmoil within the national women’s football team.
Eighteen out of 30 players, including Sumaya, have boycotted the ongoing training camp, demanding the removal of head coach, Peter Butler.
The English coach led Bangladesh during their SAFF Women’s Championship title defence in Nepal in 2024.
Lately, he has been at the centre of controversy, with tensions between him and senior players surfacing during the tournament.
Beyond her personal anguish, Sumaya’s message reflected the frustration felt by her teammates.
The 23-year-old, born and raised in Japan, shared how she had defied her parents’ wishes to pursue football.
Matsushima Sumaya said she had hoped to inspire young girls who were expected to focus solely on academics.
She lamented: “I fought with my parents to play football, believing my country would stand by me. But the reality is different.
“Nobody truly cares about an athlete’s mental health.”
Her post also addressed the scepticism surrounding a letter written by the boycotting players, detailing grievances against Butler.
On January 29, 2025, team captain Sabina Khatun, along with players Sanjida Akter, Masura Parvin, and Monika Chakma, presented a letter to the media.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) subsequently formed a seven-member Special Committee to investigate the matter.
However, an anonymous committee member expressed doubts about whether the players had authored the letter themselves.
They suggested that external influences might be involved.
The committee member said:
“It seems someone outside the team wrote the letter for them, though they claim Matsushima Sumaya wrote it.”
“However, we doubt it. It appears someone is fueling the players.”
The controversy has left the team emotionally drained. During a press conference, Sabina Khatun broke down in tears while addressing the media.
She said: “This is about self-respect. We have nothing to prove anymore.
“We play for the nation, but it is impossible to endure the insults we are receiving.”
With tensions escalating, all eyes are now on the BFF’s investigation.
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