Wed Jan 29 15:03:11 UTC 2025: ## Women’s Football Match Cancelled After Vandalism by Religious School Students in Bangladesh
**Joypurhat, Bangladesh** – A women’s football match in Joypurhat, Bangladesh, was cancelled Wednesday after students from a local religious school vandalized the venue, marking the second such incident in two days. Hundreds of students, led by the headmaster of a madrasa (religious school), marched to the stadium protesting the match, claiming women’s football is “un-Islamic.”
The protest, mirroring a similar incident in Dinajpur on Tuesday, resulted in the cancellation of a friendly match between Joypurhat and Rangpur district women’s teams. Organizers reported significant damage to the venue and its facilities. In Dinajpur, a match was postponed after protesters wielding sticks disrupted preparations. Minor injuries were reported in both incidents following clashes between protesters and counter-protesters.
The headmaster of the Joypurhat madrasa, Abu Bakkar Siddique, defended the actions, stating it was their “religious duty” to stop activities they believe contradict their beliefs. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) strongly condemned the incidents, asserting that football is for everyone, and women have the right to participate. The BFF’s media manager, Sadman Sakib, issued a statement emphasizing this right. The incidents highlight growing concerns regarding the restrictions faced by women in sports within certain segments of Bangladeshi society.
First Piper 