Butler slams pitch conditions despite Bangladesh’s 12-goal win

Bangladesh’s emphatic 12-0 victory over Bhutan in the opening match of the SAFF Women’s Under-19 Championship failed to mask head coach Peter Butler’s frustration with the playing surface in Pokhara.

Speaking after the match at Rangshala Stadium on Saturday, Butler questioned the professionalism of the tournament organisers, saying the pitch was unfit for quality football despite the one-sided scoreline.

“This pitch is not suitable for playing good football at all,” Butler said at the official post-match press conference. “The outfield has been sprayed with green paint to make it look like there is grass. In my opinion, it is completely unfair to force two teams that are trying to develop footballers and play the game in the right way to compete in such conditions.”

While stopping short of blaming any individual, the English coach was clear in his assessment. “This outfield is simply not good enough for international-standard football,” he added.

Butler, however, praised his players for adapting quickly and delivering a dominant performance despite the difficult surface. “The conditions were the same for both teams, and my girls handled the situation very well,” he said. “The scoreline reflects how much we controlled the match.”

His biggest relief, Butler noted, was avoiding injuries on a surface he described as dangerous. “The most comforting thing is that none of our players suffered any major injuries on such a bad field,” he said.

Looking ahead, Butler said recovery will be the immediate priority as Bangladesh prepares for their next fixture against India. “The players need rest now,” he said. “After tomorrow’s recovery session, we’ll analyse the India–Nepal match and plan our strategy for what will be a much tougher challenge.”

Bangladesh face India on February 2 in what is expected to be a key match in the league phase of the four-nation tournament.