U-20 Coach Gerard Jones Sacked Ahead of Asian Cup Qualifiers

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has dismissed England-born under-20 national team head coach Gerard Jones just one day before the squad’s scheduled departure for Uzbekistan to compete in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The team is due to leave Bangladesh on Wednesday. Following Jones’ sudden removal, assistant coach Atiqur Rahman Mishu is expected to take temporary charge, according to federation sources. The BFF has also indicated that additional changes to the coaching staff could be made before the tournament, scheduled for August 31 to September 6.

Jones, who holds a UEFA A Licence, was appointed in June on a two-year contract. However, his brief tenure was marked by a series of off-field controversies.

The first concerns surfaced during a training camp in Jashore, when Jones took to social media to complain about unpaid salaries and inadequate security, creating an uncomfortable situation for the federation.

Tensions escalated during the team’s recent stay at Dhaka’s Hotel Holiday Inn, where Jones and assistant coach Mishu reportedly became involved in a heated dispute that turned physical. The incident prompted Jones to call the national emergency hotline, 999, and police were brought to the hotel.

After news of the confrontation emerged, Jones posted a video on Facebook alleging that he had been physically assaulted at work and did not feel safe. He claimed he had submitted a written complaint to the BFF, along with photographs of his injuries, but received no assistance from the federation.

The ongoing controversy has placed the BFF under considerable pressure just days before an important international assignment. Amid concerns over questions from journalists about the altercation and police involvement, the federation cancelled the team’s scheduled pre-departure press conference at the last minute.

The press conference had been scheduled for 4pm Tuesday at the BFF headquarters. Shortly before the event was due to begin, the federation’s media department issued a brief notice announcing its cancellation, citing “unavoidable circumstances.”