FIFA has once again suspended the Pakistan Football Federation with immediate effect. The decision announced by the Bureau of the FIFA Council on Thursday came as a result of the PFF fail to adopt the revised version of its constitution, which was made mandatory by the FIFA and Asian Football Confederation as part of the federation’s ongoing generalization process.
The official statement of FIFA emphasized that suspension was necessary to ensure fair and democratic rule within Pakistan’s football administration.
A statement by the Bureau of the FIFA Council said that, PFF has been suspended with immediate effect as this PFF has failed to adopt the amendment of the Constitution which will actually ensure fair and democratic elections and thus PFF’s running The generalization will fulfill its obligations made by FIFA as part of the normalization process.
It states that the suspension will be removed under the approval of the PFF constitution submitted by the PFF Congress by FIFA and AFC. PFF’s difficult history with FIFA is the third time when the Pakistan Football Federation has been suspended by FIFA since 2017. Which highlights the constant governance and administrative crises in the organization which reflects respect for the country’s democratic processes.
FIFA first suspended PFF on 10 October 2017 citing third party intervention, which violated FIFA rules. The ban of 13 March 2018 was lifted, allowing Pakistan to compete in the 2018 Asian Games and SAFF Championships.
Earlier on 27 March 2021, a group headed by former president Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah forcibly captured the PFF office, causing cancellation of the women’s football championship running. After this, FIFA immediately suspended on 7 April 2021 due to external intervention. The ban remained in force for more than a year before being removed on 29 June 2022.
