FIFA has suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) for the third time since 2017. The suspension was announced Thursday and comes into force immediately. Find out why Pakistani football is facing another setback.
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In a major setback for the Pakistan football community, FIFA once again suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect. The decision, announced by the FIFA Council office on Thursday, results from the failure of the PFF to adopt a revised version of its constitution, that FIFA and the Confederation of Asian Football (AFC) had mandated within the framework of the continuous normalization of the Federation of the Process Federation.
The official declaration of FIFA stressed that the suspension was necessary to ensure fair and democratic governance in the Pakistan football administration.
“The PFF was suspended with immediate effect because of its inability to adopt a revision of the constitution of the PFF which would ensure truly fair and democratic elections and thus fulfill its obligations as obliged by FIFA within the framework of the standardization process in PFF courses, ”has a declaration from the FIFA council office has read.
“The suspension will only be raised subject to the PFF congress approving the version of the PFF Constitution presented by FIFA and AFC,” he added.
The troubled story of the PFF with FIFA
This marks the third time that the Pakistani football federation has been suspended by FIFA since 2017, highlighting persistent governance and administrative crises that afflict the organization, reflecting respect for the country for democratic processes.
2017 suspension: FIFA suspended the PFF for the first time on October 10, 2017, citing third -party interference, which violated the statutes of FIFA. The ban was lifted on March 13, 2018, allowing Pakistan to participate in the 2018 Asian Games and the SAFF championship.
2021 suspension: On March 27, 2021, the PFF office was taken care of with force by a group led by former president Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah, leading to the cancellation of an in progress women’s football championship. FIFA subsequently imposed immediate suspension on April 7, 2021, due to external interference. The ban remained in place for more than a year before being lifted on June 29, 2022.
The last suspension is an important blow for Pakistani football because it prevents the national team and clubs from participating in international competitions, including FIFA and AFC tournaments. In addition, the prohibition affects development programs, financing and international collaborations, which further hinders the progress of sport in the country.
