KARACHI: The Pakistan Sports Council has rejected the response given by the Normalization Committee of the Pakistan Football Federation regarding the concerns outlined in an earlier letter, terming the response insufficient and lacking in substance.
In a letter issued on Friday, the PSB called for a comprehensive and detailed response to the issues raised in its initial letter dated November 11, 2024.
The National Council had responded on November 13, but the board said the response failed to address specific queries and instead focused on generalizations.
In its previous letter, the PSB raised serious concerns about procedural irregularities. These problems included delays in notifying successful candidates for the Provincial Football Associations prior to the congress meeting, the NC President’s use of the title “President, PFF” rather than the FIFA-designated designation “President, NC”, and the lack of a FIFA authorization letter to make proposed amendments to the Constitution. PFF.
The Board stressed that such actions appear to go beyond the scope of the National Conference’s mandate, calling for clarity on these matters.
In its four-page response, the National Socialist Council largely highlighted its achievements since its appointment and insisted on its independence, suggesting that the National Socialist Council had been misled by individuals with vested interests.
However, the PSB rejected these arguments, stating that the sequence of events validated its concerns.
He noted that the notification of the congress meeting was issued on November 5, 2024, while the notifications for the district union elections were postponed until November 13, 2024 – only after the intervention of the PSB.
The PSB noted that this delay underscores its concerns about procedural lapses.
The Board also criticized the National Committee Chairman’s use of the position of “President, National Football Association”, describing it as inconsistent with FIFA’s mandate, which explicitly defines the role as “President, National Football Association”.
The country’s Sports Council said such actions undermine transparency and governance, which are fundamental principles of responsible sports management.
While the Council affirmed its support for the independence of sports organizations, it stressed that independence must be exercised responsibly and in accordance with laws and regulatory mandates.
He highlighted the IOC’s 2020 Olympic Agenda, which emphasizes that autonomy entails both rights and responsibilities.
The Council stated that autonomy cannot be a shield for actions that threaten transparency, justice or constitutional governance.
“Under the IOC’s 2020 Olympic Agenda, autonomy must be exercised responsibly, adhering to regulatory laws and mandates. Autonomy does not permit actions that undermine transparency, justice or constitutional governance,” the letter read.
The BSP also informed National Assembly Speaker Haroon Malik that the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination has scheduled a meeting on November 19, 2024 in Islamabad.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Front has been invited to submit a detailed report on the electoral process during the next session.
The PSB concluded its letter by reiterating the need for a detailed and objective response to the issues raised in the initial correspondence, stressing that this is necessary to address the legitimate concerns of the Pakistani football community and ensure compliance with the FIFA mandate.
“Finally, we reiterate our request for a detailed and objective response to the queries raised in our letter dated 11 November 2024. This is necessary to address the legitimate concerns of the Pakistani football community and ensure adherence to the FIFA mandate,” the PSB said.