FIFA Suspends Pakistan Football Federation

February 7, 2025 (Reuters) – FIFA has announced an immediate suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) due to its failure to implement constitutional amendments that were recommended by the global governing body. This move comes after the PFF Congress declined to adopt a revised constitution, which would have ensured fair and democratic elections—a key component of FIFA’s normalization process for the country.

The suspension of the PFF is a direct consequence of the federation’s inability to amend critical clauses in its constitution, particularly those related to the electoral process. FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had strongly urged the PFF to align its constitution with international standards. However, the newly elected PFF Congress, which had been formed following the normalization process, rejected these proposed changes.

FIFA’s decision to suspend the PFF has serious implications for Pakistan’s football scene. As a result of the suspension, the national teams of Pakistan are now prohibited from participating in international competitions, and the federation will no longer be eligible to receive financial assistance from FIFA until the constitutional issue is resolved. This is a significant setback for Pakistani football, which has been making efforts to improve its standing on the global stage.

This is not the first time the PFF has faced a suspension by FIFA. In April 2021, FIFA had imposed a ban on the PFF due to third-party interference in its operations. The ban was eventually lifted in June 2022 after the PFF Normalization Committee regained control over the federation’s premises and finances, which allowed Pakistan’s football activities to resume.

Haroon Malik, Chairman of the PFF Normalization Committee, had previously warned that such a suspension could occur if the deadlock between the federation and the newly elected Congress continued. Malik pointed out that FIFA’s primary concern was ensuring that the PFF constitution aligned with international standards for fair governance. However, the majority of the newly elected members of the PFF Congress did not agree to the proposed amendments, ultimately leading to the suspension.

The suspension is a significant blow to the momentum that Pakistan had been building in recent months. The country’s national football team had made notable progress, including their participation in the 2023 Olympic qualifiers, where they advanced to the second round. Despite this progress, the latest development underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the PFF in its efforts to reform and grow the sport in Pakistan.

FIFA’s suspension of the PFF serves as a stark reminder of the importance of governance reforms in football federations worldwide, and it remains to be seen how the PFF will address the issues raised by the global football body. Pakistani football fans and officials alike will be hoping for a swift resolution to the impasse in order to lift the suspension and restore the country’s standing in the international football community.