Pakistan males’s soccer workforce poses for an image forward of their FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers match in opposition to Jordan on the Amman Worldwide Stadium in Amman on March 27, 2024. — PFF
KARACHI: Pakistan soccer workforce’s dwelling fixture in opposition to Afghanistan within the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, scheduled for October 9 in Islamabad, seems more and more unlikely to go forward as deliberate resulting from visa points stopping the total Afghan squad from travelling.
Each the Afghanistan and Pakistan soccer federations have now approached the Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) with their grievances.
The Afghanistan Soccer Federation now needs the AFC to shift the sport to a impartial venue, whereas the Pakistan Soccer Federation (PFF) needs the match to be referred to as off and a walkover to be awarded to Pakistan.
The problem, in response to sources, is attributed to administrative lapses by the Afghanistan Soccer Federation, which submitted visa purposes late on September 27, simply 11 days earlier than the scheduled match.
Beneath AFC competitors laws, groups should apply for host nation visas at the least 30 days prematurely. Pakistan’s soccer authorities obtained the visa reference quantity on October 2, after which they instantly alerted authorities departments.
Not solely have been the visa purposes submitted late, however the details about gamers’ interviews/biometric areas on the purposes was additionally incorrect, in response to sources.
PFF sources mentioned that the method may have been managed regardless of the delay, however what created the issue was that the visa purposes talked about Afghanistan because the biometric location for all gamers, together with these residing overseas. In consequence, solely gamers who accomplished their biometrics in Kabul have been issued visas.
Each soccer federations have now taken the matter to the AFC, presenting opposing positions. The Afghanistan Soccer Federation has requested that the match be shifted to a impartial venue, whereas the PFF insists that the visa problems are Afghanistan’s fault and has referred to as for a walkover in Pakistan’s favor if the match can not proceed.
The PFF has argued that shifting the fixture to a impartial venue would impose pointless monetary and logistical burdens on Pakistan, emphasizing that the host nation has met all its obligations.
Sources inside the AFC mentioned the governing physique is reviewing the scenario and will think about both rescheduling the match to a future worldwide window or awarding a walkover, relying on the ultimate evaluation of accountability.
The choice now rests with the AFC Competitions Committee.
