A women's football match scheduled for today in Joypurhat's Akkelpur upazila has been called off after some locals and madrasa students vandalised the venue at Tilakpur High School ground yesterday.

The T-Star Club, a local sports club, had been organising a football tournament at the ground for over a month, selling tickets for Tk 30 for ground seating and Tk 70 for chairs.

The friendly match between the two female teams from Joypurhat and Rangpur was supposed to take place before the final match of the tournament today.

However, the event drew opposition from a section of locals, who objected to women participation in sports, said organisers.

Following Asr prayer yesterday, protesters, including madrasa students, gathered at the Independence Square near Tilakpur Railway Station. They addressed the crowd and termed the women's football match "anti-Islamic".

One speaker was quoted as saying, "Islam teaches us to keep women within the confines of modesty. By promoting women's sports, you are encouraging immorality. We warn you to stop these activities, or there will be resistance in future."

They then marched to the football pitch and proceeded to tear down the fence. The incident was livecast on Facebook.

Samiul Hasan Emon, president of the T-Star Club and a local BNP leader, said the protesters' actions caused damages of over Tk 1 lakh.

Akkelpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anisur Rahman said madrasa students and local Islamists were involved in dismantling the fence.

He, however, said that no formal complaints had been filed.