FIFA Suspends Pakistan Football Federation Over Governance Issues
FIFA has suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) after it failed to implement the required constitutional amendments for better governance. It Announced that the suspension will remain in place until the PFF Congress makes the necessary changes.
Why Was PFF Suspended?
Since June 2019, Pakistan football has been overseen by a FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee. The committee was tasked with organizing elections and resolving internal conflicts. However, the committee has failed to fulfil its mandate due to ongoing disputes and delays.
Adding to the complications, the committee has clashed with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), a state-run body, further delaying the amendments.
A Warning Ignored
Earlier this week, Haroon Malik, Chairman of the PFF Normalisation Committee, had warned a parliamentary panel that his tenure would end on February 15, and Pakistan risked Fédération Internationale de Football Association suspension if the amendments were not implemented. Despite this, the PFF Congress refused to comply, leading to FIFA’s decision.
Pakistan’s Third FIFA Suspension
This marks the third time since 2017 that Fédération Internationale de Football Association has suspended Pakistan, highlighting the ongoing governance and leadership struggles within the country’s football administration.
Pakistan remains ineligible to participate in FIFA-sanctioned events until the necessary reforms are made. The future of football in the country now depends on resolving these long-standing issues.
This article was initially published in Sports
