In a major blow to Pakistan’s football scene, FIFA has suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) effective immediately. The suspension was announced by the Bureau of the FIFA Council on Thursday. It follows PFF’s failure to implement a revised version of its constitution, as mandated by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as part of the ongoing normalization process.

This is the third time PFF has faced suspension since 2017. This makes it even more challenging for the future of football in Pakistan.

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Statement by FIFA Regarding Suspension

In a statement, FIFA said this suspension was necessary because Pakistan’s footballing body was not by democratic standards of governance. The Bureau of the FIFA Council said the decision was made following PFF’s failure to implement a new constitution that would assure the holding of free and democratic elections. Because of this, FIFA said PFF failed to meet its commitments under the process of normalization being undertaken.

According to the statement, “The PFF has been suspended with immediate effect due to its failure to adopt a revision of the PFF Constitution that would ensure truly fair and democratic elections and thereby fulfill its obligations as mandated by FIFA as part of the ongoing normalization process of PFF.”

“The suspension will only be lifted subject to the PFF Congress approving the version of the PFF Constitution presented by FIFA and the AFC,” it added.

PFF’s Troubled History with FIFA

It marks the third suspension since 2017, for the PFF by FIFA, and this one is more painful because the suspensions are rooted in persistent administrative and governance issues within the PFF. Therefore, this goes to prove the challenges Pakistan still faces in its football governance system.

  • 2017 Suspension: The first suspension occurred on 10 October 2017 due to third-party interference, against the provisions of FIFA’s statutes. The suspension was lifted on 13 March 2018, so Pakistan is appearing in the 2018 Asian Games and SAFF Championship.
  • 2021 Suspension: In 2021, Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah-led group takes PFF office by force leading to the suspension of footballing activities of Pakistan on 7 April 2021. Suspended for over a year the suspension was ended on 29 June 2022.

Suspension Effect of Suspension on Football in Pakistan

The latest FIFA suspension is a huge blow to Pakistan football. Under the suspension, the national team and local clubs are no longer allowed to take part in international tournaments conducted by FIFA and the AFC. Exclusion from international tournaments not only restricts the nation’s presence in the global football arena but also hampers critical developmental programs, funding, and international collaborations, further hindering the growth of football in Pakistan.

And till that time, the suspension of Pakistan remains, and only with the PFF’s acceptance of the new constitution can the suspension be lifted from the country’s footballing arena, which, at present, remains uncertain for the sport in the country.