Newcomers NoFeL SC were the second team to be relegated from the Bangladesh Premier League despite playing a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against Sheikh Jamal in their final game at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Consequently, NoFeL finished 12th in the 13-team table with 20 points from 24 matches -- one behind Brothers Union.

Sheikh Jamal, who finished sixth with 28 points from 24 matches, went ahead with a brace from Gambia’s Emil Sambou before Ashraful Islam and Guinea’s Ismail Bangoura’s goals earned a creditable draw.

It was frustrating for NoFeL to be relegated on their debut season, especially when the other newcomers, Bashundhara Kings, finished as champions.

However, NoFel’s coach and officials blamed ‘nakedly partial matches’ and a ‘syndicate’ for their demotion from the top flight.

“I think my boys played well but it was a wonder to see that the football federation did not take any steps against such nakedly partial matches,” said NoFeL coach Kamal Babu. When asked which matches he was referring to, Babu said: “You know better than me.”

“Today, one of my players was booked [for simulation] instead of our team being awarded a penalty. If that was not a penalty than I promise I will quit coaching. If such poor refereeing continues, how will the boys learn from this league?”

However, he also added that the club would not be filing a formal written complaint with the league.

NoFeL SC general secretary Shakhawat Hossain Bhuiyan Shaheen echoed the sentiments, saying: “We earned 20 points which were very tough to obtain because we did not give away any points or get any points from anyone. When we had 16 points, some clubs had eight or nine points but they are now above us. You know what happened in the league. If the syndicate system continues, there will be no spectators and we may even quit playing football. We are victims of a syndicate despite playing better football.”

Shaheen added that NoFeL were the first team in Bangladesh’s professional football league history to be eliminated despite earning at least 20 points and informed that NoFeL, along with four other clubs, had applied to the game’s local governing body to relegate only one team this season.

Team BJMC were relegated this season after nine consecutive years in the top flight.

In the day’s other match at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium, Saif SC defeated Muktijoddha Sangsad 3-1 to finish fourth for the second straight season, with 47 points from 24 matches. Muktijoddha Sangsad are seventh with 26 points but can be overtaken by Chittagong Abahani, who have 24 points and a game in hand.