The Pakistan Football Federation is likely to be suspended again
March 31, 2021The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is once
again in danger of being suspended
FIFA, the world governing body for football, has signaled the
suspension of the federation if the PFF’s recognized body is not restored.
On Saturday night, the Syed Ashfaq Hussain group seized the PFF Lahore
headquarters, causing officials, employees and staff to vacate the offices.
As a result of this action, the normalization committee appointed by
FIFA announced the immediate cancellation of the 2021 National Women’s Football
Championship.
The International Governing Body of Football has taken stern notice of
this illegal act and warned to suspend the membership of the Pakistan Football
Federation.
Pakistan Football Federation
FIFA, in a letter to PFF normalization committee chairman Haroon Malik,
made it clear that if the illegal occupants did not follow these instructions,
the matter would be immediately referred to the Bureau of Council for
decision-making. Which may suspend membership of the PFF in light of paragraph
1 of Article 16 of the FIFA Act.
FIFA said it was aware of the unfortunate incident at the PFF
headquarters in Lahore, where protesters in support of the Syed Ashfaq Hussain
group stormed the headquarters, after which officials and employees of the
federation were stormed. Had to be emptied.
Global governing of football
The World Football Governing Body condemned the incident and called it
“unacceptable” and said that all parties concerned, especially those
who stormed the PFF building, wanted to remind the PFF normalization committee
of the Bureau of Council. It was set up after the decision and was later
approved by FIFA. It is headed by your people and is the only recognized
executive body of the PFF by FIFA.
He said that in view of these facts, FIFA believes that the illegal
occupation of PFF headquarters as well as the decision to take the lead from
the normalization committee appointed by FIFA was tantamount to interfering in
the affairs of the federation. It will also violate paragraph 1 and article 19
of Article 14 of the FIFA rules.
FIFA said that as a result of the suspension of the federation, the
Pakistan Football Federation would immediately lose all membership rights
enshrined in Article 13 of the FIFA Rules and would remain suspended until the
national team of the PFF Or any club team will lose the right to participate in
any international competition while the PFF and its members will lose the right
to benefit from FIFA’s financial / development programs.
Pakistan football crisis for a
long time
It may be recalled that in view of the ongoing crisis in Pakistan
football for many years, in September 2019, FIFA had appointed a normalization
committee in Pakistan.
As a result of this appointment, the tenure of Faiz Faisal Saleh Hayat
as the President of PFF had come to an end in 2003 and the Ashfaq Group had
handed over the powers of the Federation to a body headed by Hamza Khan.
Hamza Khan resigned from the post in December last year after Haroon
Malik took over the reins of the normalization commission, but the Ashfaq
group, which demanded early elections, took over the headquarters, saying the
normalization committee had its own. Failed to fulfill the mandate.
After taking control of the headquarters, Ashfaq Hussain had said that
he was not afraid of FIFA and the threat of a global ban on the Pakistan
Football Federation could not stand in the way of his unwavering commitment.
After the Punjab Football Association held controversial elections in
April 2015, the Pakistan Football Federation split into two factions before the
presidential election.
Both factions wanted to hold the election under their supervision.
However, the Lahore High Court intervened and issued a restraining order on the
election. However, a group supporting Faisal Saleh Hayat held the election
under the supervision of AFC officials. Has appointed an administrator to run
PFF affairs.
In October 2017, upon the appointment of an administrator by the Lahore
High Court to run the affairs of the Pakistan Football Federation, FIFA
suspended its membership for six months, calling it a political interference.
The membership of the PFF was restored after the powers of the
federation were again transferred to Faisal Saleh Hayat.