FIFA’s emblem is seen in entrance of its headquarters throughout a foggy autumn day in Zurich, Switzerland on November 18, 2020. — Reuters
KARACHI: FIFA, the world’s soccer governing physique, has criticised the Pakistan Soccer Federation (PFF) congress members after the worldwide physique suspended the nationwide board.
FIFA, whereas suspending the PFF with rapid impact, cited its failure to undertake constitutional revisions deemed essential to make sure free and democratic elections, the worldwide soccer governing physique mentioned in a letter to the Chairman of the PFF Normalisation Committee, Haroon Malik.
“The proposal submitted by the majority of PFF congress members to restrict eligibility criteria for the position of PFF president would significantly reduce the pool of candidates and would go against the spirit of the bureau’s decision to ensure free and democratic elections,” FIFA stated in the letter.
According to FIFA’s letter, a majority of PFF congress members, on January 20, 2025, wrote to the normalisation committee rejecting the version of the constitution presented to them on November 18, 2024, by FIFA and the AFC.
They insisted that only the current members of the PFF congress should be eligible to run for the position of the football body’s president and requested that the relevant changes be discussed during the PFF congress on January 24, 2025.
However, on January 21, 2025, FIFA informed the relevant PFF members that the agenda of said congress could no longer be amended and that only the changes previously submitted by the normalisation committee would be considered and put to a vote.
FIFA further observed that congress members remained unwilling to implement reforms essential for transparent and fair elections.
“Regardless of FIFA and the AFC’s efforts to clarify the significance of those constitutional adjustments, the bureau famous {that a} majority of members insist on limiting the eligibility standards, jeopardising the equity and integrity of the upcoming PFF government committee elections,” it added.
FIFA’s letter clarified that the choice to droop the PFF was taken “to make sure that the normalisation means of the PFF shouldn’t be critically compromised”.
FIFA had appointed a normalisation committee in 2019 to supervise the electoral course of and governance reforms throughout the PFF. Regardless of a number of extensions, the method was repeatedly delayed on account of inside disputes and exterior elements, together with the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January 2025, the normalisation committee scheduled a PFF congress for January 24 to approve the revised structure.
Nonetheless, 4 days earlier than the assembly, a majority of PFF congress members rejected the proposed amendments, insisting that solely present members of the congress must be eligible to run for the PFF presidency.
On January 24, the PFF congress convened nearly, and 19 out of 25 members voted in opposition to the FIFA-backed reforms. This rejection finally led to FIFA’s choice to droop the PFF.
FIFA has made it clear that the suspension will solely be lifted if the PFF Congress approves the structure drafted in collaboration with FIFA and the AFC.
In the meantime, to forestall a management vacuum, FIFA additionally introduced an extension of the normalisation committee’s mandate till July 31, 2025, guaranteeing that administrative affairs proceed regardless of the suspension.
