Islamabad, Nov 16: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has strongly criticized the response of the Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) Normalization Committee (NC) to its concerns, describing it as “insufficient and lacking substance.”
In a pointed letter sent on Friday, the PSB demanded a more detailed and meaningful reply to its initial letter, dated November 11, 2024.
The took issue with the NC’s response, submitted on November 13, noting that it failed to directly address the board’s concerns and instead focused on vague generalities and self-praise about the NC’s accomplishments.
The PSB original communication raised several significant procedural issues, stressing their importance for ensuring transparency and accountability within the NC’s operations. The main points of contention included:
Delayed Notifications:
The PSB questioned the delay in notifying the successful candidates for the Provincial Football Associations, which only occurred after the Congress meeting notice was issued on November 5. This delay raised concerns over the integrity of the process.
Improper Title Use:
The PSB also took issue with NC Chairman Haroon Malik using the title “President, PFF” rather than his official FIFA-assigned title, “Chairman, NC,” suggesting this was a breach of FIFA’s official guidelines.
Constitutional Amendments:
The flagged the absence of a FIFA authorization letter for the proposed amendments to the PFF constitution, which it viewed as a significant oversight and violation of governance procedures.
The PSB emphasized that these actions appeared to exceed the NC’s scope of authority and undermined core principles of good governance and transparency.
The PSB stated that the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Agenda 2020 emphasizes that authorities should use autonomy responsibly and not shield actions that violate fairness or constitutional principles.
In response, the NC defended its actions, listing its achievements since its appointment and asserting its autonomy.
The NC also accused the PSB of being influenced by individuals with conflicting interests. However, the PSB found these justifications unconvincing.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination has called the NC for a hearing on November 19 in Islamabad.
The PSB believes that providing a comprehensive report on the election process is crucial for restoring trust within the country’s football community, and it has instructed the PFF to do so.
As the November 19 meeting draws closer, all eyes are on the NC to justify its actions and deliver the transparency demanded by Pakistan’s football stakeholders.
