A man was among at least 12 people killed after a brawl over Lionel Messi’s missed penalty shot during the soccer World Cup in Bangladesh.
Millions of people from Bangladesh have supported Argentina and Brazil since the start of this year’s FIFA World Cup.
showcasing a passion for football that transcends national borders.
The country’s love for the two Latin American nations, hundreds of kilometres apart, often turns friends into rivals and can lead to violence on match days.
Mohamed Shariful Islam, 38, was involved in a fight between football supporters in Kamila last week during Argentina’s match against Egypt after Messi’s penalty was saved by Egyptian goalkeeper Mustafa Shubeir.
According to local reports, the rickshaw driver was watching the match at a tea stall with locals when he was attacked by “Argentine supporters” for mocking the Argentine great’s missed penalty.
Islam was a Brazil fan and was the sole breadwinner in his family, driving a battery-operated rickshaw. His wife Beauty Begum asked how people could beat someone at a football match.
“I have two daughters. Now who will they call a father? Both my daughters have become orphans. I want the harshest punishment for those who killed my husband.”
Several people have died in separate incidents across the country, including fatal attacks, alleged stabbings, electrocutions and road accidents.
At least 10 people, including an assistant proctor, were injured, and several academic buildings were vandalised in clashes between rival student groups at Maulana Bhasani University of Science and Technology in Tangail.
According to reports, Fayyaz Tajerian died in a motorcycle accident in Chittogram on July 8 when he was on his way to watch a match between Argentina and Egypt.
A dispute over football turned deadly in Narail, where Mustafa Qazi was strangled to death.
In separate incidents, Maheedul Islam was killed when a goalpost collapsed during a celebration in Chittagong, while Khokan Karmakar collapsed before a friendly match organised by supporters in Barguna.
Earlier in June, clashes between Brazil and Argentina supporters after a local football match in Hebiganj injured dozens of people.
Bangladesh’s love for football was recognised by FIFA and Argentina’s players in 2022, who were overwhelmed by the support they received from a nation nearly 17,000 kilometres away from home.
The game of football was introduced in the 19th century by its British colonisers in the then capital of undivided India, Calcutta.
A study has reported that clashes between rival fan groups killed 23 people during the last World Cup in 2022.
In 2014, at least three died while hanging flags from power lines, Time reported. In 2018, a 12-year-old boy was electrocuted while holding a Brazilian flag, while a man and his son were seriously injured in clashes between rival fan processions.
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