ZURICH: World football’s governing body FIFA on Thursday lifted the “suspension that was imposed on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) in April 2021 due to undue third-party interference”.
“The decision was taken after FIFA received confirmation that the normalisation committee of the PFF had regained full control of the PFF’s premises and was in a position to manage its finances,” the Bureau of the FIFA Council stated.
“The PFF was also informed that any undue interference in its affairs or action that could hinder the fulfilment of the mandate of the normalisation committee might lead to the PFF being suspended again and/or the imposition of other sanctions provided for in the FIFA Statutes,” the official statement further reads.
The FIFA statement added that the original deadline of June 30 2022 (Thursday), that had been set by which time the normalisation committee was required to fulfil its mandate, was now no longer realistic, hence the committee‘s mandate was being extended by a year to June 30, 2023.
“This will enable the latter to finally carry out the tasks assigned to it in full,” FIFA stated.
PFF Normalisation Committee (NC) chairman Haroon Malik hailed the decision as a “historic day” for Pakistani football.
“I congratulate the whole nation and football community on the news,” he said in a video message.
Malik said the Normalisation Committee was resolved to fulfilling FIFA’s mandate and would revive footballing activities, as well as ensure participation of the national team in international competitions.
He said that heading towards elections and reclamation of assets would also be among the top priorities for the PFF.
Pakistan’s dawn newspaper reports that the PFA was suspended by FIFA in April 2021 after its appointed NC was thrown out of office by a group of officials led by Ashfaq Hussain Shah, who claimed that the Haroon Malik-led committee wasn’t sincere about holding elections. A lot like what has transpired in India with the Supreme Court appointing a Committee of Administrators to oversee the affairs of the All India Football Federation.
Rounds of talks between the PSB and the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination with officials of the NC as well the Ashfaq group and others eventually saw the NC return to the PFF headquarters after handing over an eight-month roadmap to hold the elections.
FIFA statement in full
The Bureau of the FIFA Council decided on 29 June 2022 to lift the suspension that was imposed on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) in April 2021 due to undue third-party interference.
The decision was taken after FIFA received confirmation that the normalisation committee of the PFF had regained full control of the PFF’s premises and was in a position to manage its finances.
The PFF was also informed that any undue interference in its affairs or action that could hinder the fulfilment of the mandate of the normalisation committee might lead to the PFF being suspended again and/or the imposition of other sanctions provided for in the FIFA Statutes.
As the deadline by which the normalisation committee was required to fulfil its mandate (30 June 2022) is now no longer realistic, the Bureau has also decided to extend the committee‘s mandate until 30 June 2023 at the latest. This will enable the latter to finally carry out the tasks assigned to it in full.
