FIFA suspends membership of Pakistan football federation – again

LAHORE: FIFA announced yet another suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) due to the local governing body’s failure to comply with regulations concerning the establishment of a new constitution.

The suspension will remain in place until the PFF successfully formulates a new constitution that meets FIFA’s standards.

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The PFF has faced a series of challenges and controversies that have strained its relationship with FIFA over the years.

Established in 1947, the PFF is headquartered in Lahore and became a FIFA member in 1948. It is also affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).

The PFF oversees different local and national teams, including both men’s and women’s squads. It also manages futsal and beach football teams.

Despite its long-standing history, the PFF has struggled with organisational issues and developments in the sport.

The federation’s difficulties can be traced back to its founding, when Pakistan inebriated the football infrastructure from the British colonial era. The urgency for a unified governing body was apparent, especially as India has already established its own football associations.

The PFF organised its inaugural National Football Championship by 1948, but the growth of football in the country was hampered by a lack of resources and effective management.

Throughout its history, the PFF has been embroiled in controversies, including allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Political interference is arguably the biggest issue, particularly during the 1990s when different political figures south control over the federation.

Then in the early 2000s, Faisal Saleh Hayat led the PFF, a tenure marked by a significant decline in the nation team’s FIFA ranking, which plummeted from 168 in 2003 to 201 in 2017.

Under his ‘leadership’, the Pakistan Premiere League faced suspensions, and the senior men’s team was barred from international competitions.

Internal conflicts within the PFF culminated in a split, with factions vying for control. This prompted FIFA to intervene.

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The international governing body’s involvement escalated in 2017 when the PFF was suspended due to third-party interference. The suspension was lifted in March 2018, allowing Pakistan to participate in international competition.

However, the situation deteriorated again in December 2018 when the Supreme Court of Pakistan mandated new elections for the PFF; FIFA viewed this as further interference.

In September 2019, FIFA appointed a normalisation committee to oversee the PFF’s operations and facilitate elections. However, the committee faced issues in meeting deadlines, leading to change in leadership.

A new chairman of the normalisation committee was appointed in January 2021, but the PFF continued to experience turmoil.

The crisis escalated in March 2021 when the PFF’s office was attacked by a former president and his supporters. This resulted in hostages being taken and the cancellation of ongoing women’s championships.

In response, the FIFA suspended the PFF once again on April 7, 2021 due to the ongoing third-party interference.

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The PFF’s membership was reinstated in June 2022 but the federation’s struggles persisted. The most recent suspension by the international football body is yet another example of gross incompetence and internal politics.