FIFA earlier warned of the suspension if the illegal occupation of PFF premises didn’t end
FIFA has suspended Pakistan’s Football Federation after the illegal takeover of the head office premises by the Ashfaq Hussain Shah group.
They are controlling the premises and the official documentation of the governing body. FIFA will not lift the suspension until the reigns of PFF are handed over to the FIFA-backed normalization committee led by Haroon Malik.
“This situation was prompted by the recent hostile takeover of the PFF headquarters in Lahore by a group of protestors and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed normalization committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah,” the statement added.
FIFA had previously issued a warning that a suspension will take place if the reigns were not handed back to the normalization committee and the premises were not vacated who took them over with hostility.
“FIFA issued a letter warning that, should the illegitimate occupation of the PFF headquarters not be lifted and the office bearers recognised by the global body 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,” the statement issued on Wednesday said.
Pakistan’s football has been suspended on previous occasions as well. It is severely affected by politics and generally, two groups have a tug of war to gain power. The latest development is not only embarrassing but also puts the livelihood of thousands of football players in the country in jeopardy.