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ISLAMABAD: FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, said on Wednesday it had suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect due to third-party interference.
FIFA said it was suspending PFF because of a “hostile takeover” led by a group headed by Ashfaq Hussain Shah, which took over PFF headquarters last month and seized control from the FIFA ‘normalization committee’ headed by Haroon Malik.
The group was elected by the Supreme Court in 2018 to run PFF but was not recognized by FIFA, which does not accept government or court interference.
“FIFA issued a letter warning that, should the illegitimate occupation of the PFF headquarters not be lifted and the office bearers recognized by FIFA not be permitted free access to the building to carry out their mandate, the matter would be immediately submitted to the Bureau of the Council for decision,” FIFA said in a statement. “As the situation remains unchanged, the Bureau of the Council has decided to suspend the PFF.”
The international football governing body pays a substantial sum of money to Pakistan for the upkeep of stadiums and to popularize the sport.
The situation has also triggered uncertainty for Pakistani football players, according to local media, who will not be able to play in international tournaments until the issue is resolved.
Asked about the situation, Shah told Arab News he would consult his team before issuing a statement.
“I will have to refer everything to my congress and central committee,” he said. “We are calling a meeting for that and then we will issue a press release.”
“This suspension will only be lifted once FIFA has received confirmation from the normalization committee of the PFF that the PFF’s premises, accounts, administration and communication channels are again under its full control and it can continue to carry out its mandate without further hindrance,” the FIFA statement added.
Pakistan was previously suspended from October 2017 to March 2018 after FIFA objected to a court decision to appoint an outside administrator to run the PFF after another dispute over a contested election.