KARACHI: FIFA has once again suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) after the PFF Congress declined to adopt the constitutional changes recommended by FIFA.
FIFA announced the suspension, which takes effect immediately, stating that the PFF failed to revise its constitution to ensure fair and democratic elections, as required under FIFA’s ongoing normalization process. The suspension will only be lifted if the PFF Congress approves the revised constitution proposed by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The FIFA and AFC had suggested amendments to the PFF’s constitution, particularly in the electoral process. However, the PFF’s elected congress rejected these amendments.
This is the second suspension for the PFF. In April 2021, FIFA suspended the federation for violating FIFA’s statutes due to undue third-party interference. The suspension was lifted in June 2022 after FIFA confirmed that the PFF’s Normalization Committee had regained full control over the federation’s assets and finances.
Despite efforts to resolve issues, FIFA has continued pressing for constitutional amendments to ensure fair elections and proper governance within the PFF. However, due to the PFF Congress’s refusal to adopt the changes, the suspension has been reinstated.
As a result of the suspension, Pakistan’s football teams are barred from international competitions, and the PFF will not receive any assistance from FIFA until the issue is resolved.
Earlier, PFF Normalisation Committee Chairman Haroon Malik had warned that FIFA might “conditionally” suspend Pakistan due to the deadlock between FIFA and the newly elected PFF Congress. He informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) that the suspension would prevent Pakistan’s international participation and halt FIFA’s financial support.
Malik further explained that FIFA’s proposed amendments were aimed at aligning the PFF Constitution with international standards, but the majority of the newly elected PFF Congress members disagreed with the proposals.
He also provided an update on the PFF’s elections, stating that all elections from the district level onward had been completed and that the newly elected Congress members would oversee the next phase. Malik highlighted that, for the first time, Pakistan’s football team participated in the 2023 Olympic qualifiers, advancing to the second round. The committee praised the PFF’s efforts in promoting football at the Olympic level.
