FIFA suspends the Pakistan Football Federation

pff

ZURICH: 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.

The Bureau took this decision as a result of the fact that the PFF offices and its accounts remain in control of a court-appointed administrator, which constitutes a violation of the PFF obligations to manage its affairs independently and without influence from any third parties in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.

The election of Faisal Saleh Hayat as the governing body's president in 2015 and subsequent allegations of vote-rigging effectively led to a stoppage in the running of the sport in Pakistan, UK's Independent reports.

In a bid to fix the issue, a high court-appointed administrator took over running of the PFF - but that move came in violation of FIFA statutes regarding political interference, resulting in the present edict from football's world governing body.

The suspension will be lifted once the PFF offices and access to the PFF accounts are returned to the PFF, FIFA stated.

Following its suspension, the PFF loses all its membership rights as defined in art. 13 of the FIFA Statutes. The PFF representative and club teams are no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.

 

This also means that neither the PFF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any development programmes, courses or training from FIFA or the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Moreover, and in accordance with art. 16 par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes, other member associations may not entertain sporting contact with the PFF during its suspension.