- PFF criticized to reject the proposed constitutional amendments.
- Congress says only members should be qualified to run for the president.
- Members request to discuss relevant changes on January 24.
Karachi: FIFA, the World Football Management Authority, criticized the members of the Pakistan Football Association Conference (PFF) after the International Authority suspended the National Council.
In a letter to the head of the PFF, Harun Malik, the World Football Authority said that PFF immediately indicated its failure to adopt constitutional reviews that are necessary to ensure free and democratic elections.
FIFA message, which he seen Geo NewsHe strongly criticized the members of the PFF conference for rejecting the proposed constitutional amendments, on the pretext that the situation threatened the integrity of the union’s electoral process.
“The proposal submitted by the majority of PFF members to restrict eligibility standards for the position of PFF will significantly reduce the group of candidates and will contradict the office’s decision to ensure free and democratic elections,” FIFA stated in a letter.
According to FIFA, the majority of PFF members, on January 20, 2025, wrote to the Normalization Committee, rejecting the constitution version submitted to them on November 18, 2024, by FIFA and AFC.
They have insisted that the current members of the PFF conference should be qualified to run for the position of president of the Football Authority and asked to discuss related changes during the PFF on January 24, 2025.
However, on January 21, 2025, FIFA informed PFF members concerned that the aforementioned Congress agenda could no longer be modified and that the changes previously made by the Normalization Committee will be considered and placed in the vote.
FIFA also noted that Congress members remained unwilling to implement the necessary reforms for transparent and fair elections.
He added: “Despite the efforts of FIFA and the efforts of the AFC to explain the importance of these constitutional changes, the office indicated that the majority of members insist on reducing the criteria of eligibility, and adding to the integrity of the elections of the next PFF’s executive committee.”
Geo News The proposed amendments document witnessed the recommendation of the eligibility to compete for the elections for the President of PFF as “a candidate for the PFF office, has played an active role in football management at any level (for example, as an official within PFF, at the regional/regional level, level The boycott or inside the club) or as a player for at least two years from the previous five years before his proposal as a candidate.
FIFA letter explained that the decision of PFF was taken “to ensure that the PFF normalization is not seriously exposed to.”
FIFA appointed a normalization committee in 2019 to oversee the electoral process and governance reforms within PFF. Despite the multiple extensions, the process was repeatedly delayed due to internal conflicts and external factors, including Covid-19.
In January 2025, the PFF Normalization Committee set on January 24 to approve the revised constitution.
However, four days before the meeting, most of the PFF members rejected the proposed amendments, rejected that only the current members of Congress should be eligible to run for PFF presidency.
On January 24, the PFF conference was held almost and 19 out of 25 members voted against FIFA reforms. This rejection eventually led to the FIFA decision to suspend PFF.
FIFA explained that the suspension will be raised unless the PFF conference applies to the constitution that was formulated in cooperation with FIFA and AFC.
Meanwhile, to prevent the leadership void, FIFA also announced the extension of the normalization committee’s authorization until July 31, 2025, ensuring that administrative affairs continue despite the comment.