FIFA Sends Good News For Pakistan Football Federation
FIFA Sends Good News For Pakistan Football Federation: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) received recognition from FIFA in early 1948. It is the governing body of football in Pakistan. The PFF’s headquarters is at FIFA Football House in Lahore, Punjab near the Punjab Stadium. On 10 October 2017, FIFA suspended PFF stating that “FIFA has decided to suspend the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect in accordance with the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council dated 10 October 2017 on account of undue third-party interference”. It means that PFF is violating the PFF obligations to manage its affairs independently and without influence from any third parties in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.
On 13th March 2018, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura released a letter to media stating that since the PFF has successfully taken over the offices along with control on accounts of PFF the suspension of the PFF is lifted with immediate effect. This means that all of PFF’s membership rights have been restored, as defined in Article. 13 of the FIFA Statutes. PFF’s representative and club teams are again entitled to take part in international competitions. It is the most popular sport in Pakistan after cricket and field hockey, and it is organized and regulated by the Pakistan Football Federation. This lifting of suspension also means that PFF’s members and officials may benefit from development programmes, courses and training from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Finally, FIFA member associations may again enter into sporting contact with PFF and/or its teams. This is all defined in FIFA-issued statement.
The Pakistan national football team is a member of the Asian Football Confederation, and its sub-confederation the South Asian Football Federation, as well as world governing board FIFA. Preparations to welcome the trophy for Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Pakistan are in progress as the country looks forward to mark the occasion with a grand event scheduled early next month. 32 football teams from around the world will take part in mega event this year.
Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, FF President, expressed his thanks to Gianni Infantino, President FIFA and Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, AFC President, for their support. He said that this is a great victory for the football lovers, players, coaches and referees and the entire football family in Pakistan. He said that PFF have formulated activity calendar for 2018 that will be announced very soon.