Bangladesh head coach Thomas Dooley has dismissed speculation about a conflict with 19-year-old winger Farhan Ali Wahid, who is contracted to Fulham. The manager also refuted claims of a row with the player's father.
Wahid received his first call-up to the Bangladesh national team for the recent matches, making his debut in a 3-0 defeat against Malaysia. He started the game but was substituted at halftime.
In the following match against Singapore, Wahid remained on the bench. This led to rumors of a falling out with Dooley and potential desires to leave the national setup.
However, the coach rejected these claims:
There is no conflict between Farhan Ali and me. At least on my side. I have no issues with his father either. We haven't argued or had disputes. All the other stories that are circulating are complete lies.
Dooley clarified that his decision to substitute the winger in the Malaysia match was purely based on performance:
When a coach leaves a player on the bench or substitutes him, there is always a reason behind it. The player might need a rest, have an injury, or it could be a tactical call related to his game.
I always openly explain my decisions to the team and the federation. I have nothing to hide. The only reason Farhan was substituted at halftime against Malaysia was his performance.
Wahid trained for a time at Chelsea’s academy before moving to Fulham's youth setup in 2019. He is yet to make his debut for the first team but has been on loan at Boreham Wood this season, where he has scored two goals and provided two assists in six matches.
Dooley added that since his arrival in Bangladesh, there have been constant unverified rumors surrounding the team:
Since I came to Bangladesh, it seems like almost every day there's a new rumor. When someone is unhappy or just wants to stir the pot, they write something on social media. In most cases, it has nothing to do with the truth.
The Bangladesh national team will next face Indonesia on October 1.
