Nightclub photos on social media spark questions for Bangladesh duo after 9-2 defeat

Bangladesh's 9-2 defeat to Indonesia in their final FIFA ASEAN Cup match was swiftly overshadowed by photographs circulating on social media that appeared to show defender Saad Uddin and midfielder Sohel Rana Jr at a nightclub, prompting both players to offer explanations for the images.

An Indonesian user named Alana, posting under the handle @stlobelyaisklim on X, formerly Twitter, shared the photographs, writing that she had met members of the Bangladesh squad at the H Club and had been invited to watch the match against Indonesia, though the post was later deleted after going viral.

In one caption, Alana referenced the heavy scoreline directly, suggesting the players had approached her that same night, a claim that fuelled speculation among fans already frustrated by Bangladesh's heaviest defeat in years at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Both players denied the photographs were taken in Indonesia at all, insisting instead that they dated back to a trip to Nepal before the national team camp began, taken while they were on a break following their signings for Mohammedan Sporting Club.

Saad explained that he had met Alana during that earlier visit and had later invited her to watch the Jakarta match, though she did not attend, while clarifying that footballers were entitled to a personal life outside official club and international duty.

Sohel Rana went further, denying any nightclub visit in Jakarta altogether and insisting the photographs had been misrepresented. He said the pictures were taken in Nepal during the domestic break, with mutual friends present, and that one of them had later shared them without context.

He added that the timing made the images appear far worse than the reality, with the squad in no mood to celebrate anything following such a damaging result, and said he personally regretted that the photographs had been shared at all.

The episode adds to a difficult period for Saad in particular, who had previously been suspended for six months for pushing a match commissioner before the ban was reduced to six matches, allowing him to continue representing the national side.