According to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), the proposed constitutional amendments in Lahore for the rehabilitation of the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) were approved in a majority, after which the FIFA membership paved the way.
Shahid Khokhar, an official of the Pakistan Football Federation participating in the meeting, told Independent Urdu: ‘FIFA has approved the presence of representatives of the World and Regional Football Forums participating in the meeting, which has suspended PFF membership due to constitutional clauses.
FIFA has suspended the membership of the Pakistan Football Federation for the second time from February 6 this month.
According to a FIFA statement, “the PFF failed to include amendments to its constitution, which played a vital role in ensuring a transparent and democratic election and completing the PFF’s normalization process according to FIFA’s imposed principles.” The suspension will remain until the PFF Congress approves constitutional amendments submitted by FIFA and AFC. ‘
According to Shahid Khokhar: ‘We have approved the proposed constitutional amendments on the terms of FIFA, so FIFA will no longer objected to restoring our membership. FIFA demanded that the PFF constitution be formed in accordance with the world’s other football federations and FIFA standards. FIFA membership has not been restored yet, but we have removed all obstacles. ‘
He added: ‘Earlier, FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had recommended PFF amendments to its constitution. Particularly called for a change in clauses related to the electoral process, but the PFF’s elected Congress rejected the amendments, which resulted in the suspension. ‘
This is not the first time that the PFF has faced suspension. In April 2021, FIFA also suspended the membership of the Pakistan Football Federation, as the PFF offices were seized by the Ashfaq Hussain group, claiming victory in the Pakistan Football Federation elections. FIFA, in June 2022, suspended the PFF membership in June 2022, declaring their success unconstitutional.
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After FIFA’s decision, Pakistan’s football team could not participate in any international competition. In addition, all financial and technical support from FIFA was also suspended.
Shortly afterwards, FIFA constituted a Normalization Committee and handed over FIFA -run PFF offices to the committee. The ban on the charge of this committee was lifted and the Pakistan football team could play qualifying matches to participate in the world competitions, but the Pakistan football team will not be able to participate in the world competitions until the membership restoration.
According to a statement issued by the PFF, the newly elected Congress of the Pakistan Football Federation recognized the FIFA’s proposed constitutional amendments at an extraordinary Congress meeting in Lahore. Congress members endorsed FIFA’s proposed amendments in the best interest of Pakistan football, which will pave the way for the national team to participate in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers after FIFA’s expected end of the suspension.
It was further stated that the meeting was attended by a high -level delegation of FIFA and Asian Football Confederation, which included Deputy General Secretary AFC only Kardani, Ralph Tanner, head of FIFA MA Governance, AFC South Asia Unit head Prashant Kettle, AFC South Asia Unit and Sonam Jaghim, AFC South Asia Unit.
The meeting was chaired by PFF President and Normalization Committee Chairman Saud Azim Hashmi. Members Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar and Harris Azmat were also present on the occasion. AFC’s deputy general secretary, Ekid Kardani, lauded the intention of Congress members for making necessary reforms in Pakistan football. He also praised the efforts of the Normalization Committee to facilitate this process.
