KARACHI, Feb 7: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has been suspended by the International Football Federation (FIFA) due to its failure to amend its constitution as required for effective governance of football in the nation.
FIFA stated that Pakistan will remain suspended until the necessary amendments are made by the PFF congress.
Since June 2019, Pakistan football has been overseen by a FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee, which was charged with conducting elections and resolving internal factions within the football community. However, they have struggled to fulfill these objectives.
The leadership of the Normalisation Committee has changed multiple times in the past five years, yet the fundamental issues confronting football in Pakistan have persisted.
Tensions between the Normalisation Committee and the Pakistan Sports Board have further hindered the amendment process.
Earlier this week, the chairman of the PFF Normalisation Committee, Haroon Malik, cautioned a parliamentary panel that his tenure would end on February 15, and that failure to implement the constitutional changes could result in Pakistan facing suspension.
Malik clarified that making these amendments does not imply he will run for a position in the upcoming elections for the country’s football governing body.
He expressed that the PFF Congress is reluctant to make the requested amendments, leading to a stalemate.
This marks the third suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation since 2017. (Agencies)
