Islamabad, Feb 11: The future of football in Pakistan remains uncertain as the country faces ongoing challenges in resolving its governance issues. Reports indicate that the Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) is planning to make key recommendations to FIFA in an attempt to find a solution, despite the global governing body’s firm stance against unauthorized bodies interfering in the affairs of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).
FIFA has recently imposed another ban on Pakistan’s football activities, which could have significant consequences if the intervention from local authorities continues. Despite FIFA’s strict bylaws, which do not tolerate such interference, the IPC Standing Committee held a meeting on February 6, 2025, to discuss possible solutions to the current crisis.
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In the aftermath of the meeting, the Chairman of the Normalization Committee was tasked with setting up a Review Committee to mediate between the Normalization Committee and the newly elected Congress. The aim is to address FIFA and AFC’s proposed constitutional amendments and to ensure that both FIFA’s rules and the PFF Constitution are upheld, with a focus on resolving the ongoing leadership and governance disputes within Pakistan football.
Additionally, the Standing Committee has formed a subcommittee led by Anjum Aqeel Khan, MNA, with the support of Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, Jamshed Ahmed Dasti, and officials from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). This subcommittee has been assigned a range of crucial tasks, including examining the eligibility criteria for Congress membership, reviewing the appointment of controversial Congress members, ensuring transparency in the process of selecting the PFF President, and evaluating the extent to which FIFA’s objectives in appointing the Normalization Committee have been met.
While these efforts are seen as a temporary measure to restore Pakistan’s membership in FIFA, the global body is unlikely to recognize any intervention by the IPC, as it is not authorized to intervene in official football governance. This ongoing power struggle between FIFA, the AFC, and the PFF Congress seems poised to continue, with no clear resolution in sight for the future of football in Pakistan.
