Pakistan withdraws from SAFF U20 Championship due to funding issues

KARACHI: The Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) Normalisation Committee announced the withdrawal of the Pakistan U20 football team from the upcoming South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U20 Football Championship in Nepal due to financial constraints.

The PFF was counting on financial support from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to cover participation costs for three tournaments: the SAFF U17 Championship, the SAFF U20 Championship, and the SAFF Women’s Championship.

Despite repeated requests, FIFA did not respond. This led to the decision to withdraw from the SAFF U20 event.

Read more: Pakistan’s historic football victory signals new era for the sport

The tournament was scheduled to take place from August 18 till August 28 in Kathmandu, Nepal. It will now proceed without Pakistan’s participation following the committee’s decision,

A senior official from the PFF confirmed the withdrawal, citing the lack of necessary funds. The official expressed concerns that without financial backing, participation in future SAFF tournaments, including the U17 and Women’s Championships, could also be jeopardised.

Sources close to football circles disclosed that each tournament requires approximately $200,000 in funding. They suggested that alternative funding avenues, such as sponsorships, could be explored instead of relying solely on FIFA.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the PFF generated significant revenue, exceeding Rs10 million, from recent FIFA Qualifier matches hosted in Pakistan.

Football stakeholders in Pakistan urged the PFF to prioritise administrative responsibilities. They asked the football board to conduct elections over engaging in league-related activities for men’s and women’s football and futsal.

The stakeholders pointed out that the normalisation committee’s mandate ends on December 15. They stressed transferring organisational matters to an elected body and noted that league arrangements are not within the committee’s mandate due to time constraints.

After Pakistan withdrew, the SAFF U20 Championship schedule was adjusted, reducing the planned seven-team tournament to six teams. The changes involve updated groupings and match dates to accommodate Pakistan’s absence from the competition.

Read more: Outcry over expensive tickets as Pakistan football match turns into revenue source

The SAFF General Secretary also Pakistan’s notification regarding their withdrawal, acknowledging the financial challenges cited by the PFF as the reason for their decision.