The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) brushed aside whispers of leniency by handing out different terms of suspension to four national footballers, including Mamunul Islam, on disciplinary grounds yesterday.

Skipper Mamunul and winger Zahid Hossain were given one-year suspensions each from the national team, while defender Yeasin Khan and midfielder Sohel Rana were handed six-month suspensions each from the national team, taken under the 'BFF Code of Conduct for players of the national team'.

They will however be allowed to represent their club teams at domestic and international level.

Apart from these four players, three other national team booters -- goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel, defenders Atiqur Rahman Meshu and Yeamin Ahmed Chowdhury Munna -- were served warnings for disciplinary breaches.

The decisions were made after the National Teams Committee, headed by BFF vice president Kazi Nabil Ahmed, reviewed the report of a three-member subcommittee which quizzed the alleged players on the basis of disciplinary allegations. The allegations were brought by the fact-finding committee formed to look into the failure of the national team in December's SAFF Suzuki Cup and January's Bangabandhu Gold Cup.

“The seven footballers were given an opportunity to defend themselves before a three-member subcommittee after the fact-finding committee had brought some allegations against the players. On the basis of the report of the subcommittee as well as other reports, we have taken these decisions,” Nabil said.

“What we have maintained is the proportion of punishment because we didn't want someone to get heavy punishment for lesser offences or someone to receive small punishment for heavier offences,” Nabil said.

“We are not ready to throw away the future comfort for one or two matches at present; rather what we have given importance on is the professional conduct of the players, sense of the players' commitment and overall discipline. Due to a lack of all these issues, you don't get the best performance from the players,” Nabil said, referring to the upcoming matches of the national team, which is scheduled to play a final World Cup qualifying match against Jordan later this month and play the third round of the Asian Cup Qualifiers from June onwards.

Most of the players, however, refuted the suspensions meted out against them.

“I want to say that they committed an injustice against me because I did not breach discipline and there was also no evidence against me. Not only me, all footballers have been dishonoured. They have damaged everything I achieved in the last 10 years,” said a seemingly frustrated Mamunul over phone.

Zahid accepted the suspension and vowed to return to the national team by proving himself on the pitch.

“Even though I have been suspended, I still don't know what mistake I made. They could not tell us about my transgression. I have nothing to say about the decision,” said Sohel Rana.

“There would have been no regrets if they could provide evidence for the allegations brought against me,” Yeasin Khan said, adding that no one raised any questions about his performance.

The game's governing body had earlier banned three players -- Zahid Hossain Emily, Mithun Chowdhury and Zahid Hossain -- from domestic competitions on disciplinary grounds in December, 2011, but it lifted the bans on Emily and Mithun following the exemption appeal the following month. Zahid served a three-match domestic suspension.

BFF CODE OF CONDUCT  for national team players

Code No. 2: The player is expected to conduct himself in a proper manner, both on and off the field. He will refrain from any behaviour, gesture or language that is threatening, abusive, obscene or provocative.

Code No. 6: The player shall not make any comments/interview with the press/media without obtaining explicit written permission from the Team Management or the National Teams Committee. 

Code No. 7: The player is obliged to preserve a confidential relationship with the Bangladesh FF and Bangladesh national football team for which he plays. He has to observe secrecy in respect of confidential information which he might acquire as a result of his status as a player. 

Code No. 12: So long as the players remain affiliated with the Bangladesh national football team/ Bangladesh FF, he is to refrain from substance (drug) abuse at all times, whether on or off the field.