Pakistan Football Federation

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Pakistan Football Federation
AFC
File:New2008 PFFlogo.png
Founded1947; 76 years ago (1947)
HeadquartersLahore
FIFA affiliation1948
AFC affiliation1954
SAFF affiliation1997
PresidentVacant
Websitepff.com.pk

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is the governing body of association football in Pakistan.[1] Founded in 1947, its headquarters are at the FIFA Football House in Lahore, Punjab near Punjab Stadium. The federation manages the men's and women's national teams. The PFF is a member of AFC and FIFA.

History

Main article: Football in Pakistan

Early years

Upon Pakistan's independence in 1947, both East and West wings of the country inherited the football infrastructure of the British Raj.[2][3] The need for establishing a nationwide football association to govern the game properly was urgent, since India had inherited the erstwhile Calcutta-based Indian Football Association and the All-India Football Federation (AIFF).

Thus, on 5 December 1947 the Pakistan Football Federation was created. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's first Governor-General, became the patron-in-chief, and in 1948, the PFF became affiliated with FIFA. It was also one of the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation in 1954.[4]

PFF organized the first National Football Championship from 28 May to 5 June 1948 in Karachi, with Sindh Red beating Sindh Blue in the final.[5][6]

Previously, corrupt and inefficient management, poor support from the authorities to the players and to the game itself, poor media coverage and the status of cricket as the most popular game in the country were some of the factors as to why football remained underdeveloped since independence. Also due to politics within the organisation, there was a time when FIFA had suspended Pakistan from all international football due to rival PFF factions setting up their own teams to take part in international and national competitions. Such things hindered any chance of football's progress over the last[when?] two decades.[citation needed]

Hayat's reign

However, in August 2003, the PFF was under new management, as Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat took over, and he has turned around the fortunes of Pakistani football. With the Assistance of FIFA, the PFF set up a national football league in 2004, which is now called the Pakistan Premier League. In 2005 a national championship was set up for women's football. In 2007, the inter-city Geo Super Football League was established, making it the first time that Pakistani club football was telecast live on national television via GEO Super. It also became Pakistan's first professional football tournament.[citation needed]

Since 2015 and the controversial third election of Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, the PFF has been going through an internal feud that unables the local and national teams to partake to any international event. In July 2017, the FIFA threatened to suspend the PFF's membership if it kept refusing to hand football affairs to its president-elect Faisal Saleh Hayat.[7][8] Former coach Nasir Ismail asked FIFA to hold fresh elections for the PFF's presidency.[9]

On 11 October 2017 the FIFA decided to suspend Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect [10] On 13 March 2018 FIFA lifted the suspension[11]

Overview

At both club and international football, Pakistan have seen results improve. Pakistani rise has attracted many abroad origin players throughout the world. However, more effort and sincerity by the officials is required to allow further progress of the sport in Pakistan. Current bureaucratic inefficiencies and lackluster politics remain within the PFF machinery that have always hindered the true growth of the game in Pakistan at a faster rate.[citation needed]

Pakistan's core national league has three divisions. The National Football Championship (A-Division) is named as the Pakistan Premier League (PPL), while National Championship (B-Division) is known as the Pakistan Football Federation League (PFF League). National Club Championship (C-Division) used to be the lowest division. Below this are regional leagues. There is also a national knock-out competition called the National Football Challenge Cup although it appears to be used sparingly nowadays, as PFF is one of the most corrupt organizations, per UNESCO corruption rankings.[citation needed]

Criticism

Over the past several years, the Pakistan Football Federation has been accused of several corruption scandals and incompetence in running the day-to-day footballing activities in Pakistan. Local media outlets have described the current situation of the PFF as a "horror show".[12]

Faisal Saleh Hayat incompetence

Hayat was the President of the Pakistan Football Federation and also serves as a member of the Strategic Committee of FIFA. He has held this position since 2003, and has been described as a "feudal lord of Pakistani football".[13] During his controversial tenure, Pakistan's FIFA ranking has dropped from 168 in 2003 to 201 in 2017.[14] Despite his lackluster results, Hayat continues to hold on to his position as president. Hayat himself in also the middle of various corruption allegations involving PFF and a legal battle at Lahore High Court with a warring faction intent on seeing him removed from office. The top division of the Pakistan Premier League remains suspended because the crisis created due to his actions. The men's senior team last played in March 2015, when they bowed out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the first round.

In June 2017, 18 of the 26 members of the PFF voted in favor of Faisal Saleh Hayat's dismissal for incompetence and embezzlement of PFF funds.[15] In July 2017, the FIFA threatened to suspend the PFF's membership if it kept refusing to hand football affairs to its president-elect Faisal Saleh Hayat.[7][8]

Punjab Football Association elections controversy

In June 2015, the PFF presidential elections were announced, with Faisal Saleh Hayat facing his biggest challenge since 2003. Several senior members of the PFF as well as the government were intent on having Hayat removed from power. Controversy began at the Punjab Football Association, when the Hayat-backed Sardar Naveed Haider Khan toppled incumbent Arshad Khan Lodhi. Several of Lodhi's voters were banned by Hayat's illegal disciplinary committee. With this, Zahir Ali Shah a PFF vice-president, turned against Hayat and announced his intention to run for PFF presidency. Shortly after his announcement, allegations emerged from Shah claiming that Hayat had changed several clauses of the PFF constitution to suit himself in the presidential election. The PFF eventually split into two groups following an Extraordinary Congress meeting that suspended Hayat. With the election approaching, the two factions announced their own election venues. The Lahore High Court was forced to intervene in and ordered a stay on polling and appointed a temporary administrator until matters were resolved between the two factions.[16]

The row intensified when the Hayat faction went on and held election anyway, disobeying the Lahore High Court stay order.[17] FIFA then intervened and sent a fact-finding mission. They concluded that Hayat be given a mandate for two years, in which he would have to amend PFF statutes and form an independent disciplinary committee before holding elections again.[18][19]

The Lahore High Court appointed administrator Asad Munir was given authority to manage football activity in Pakistan, while the two factions sorted out differences. In a shocking move, the Hayat faction swiftly withdrew the Pakistan team from the 2015 SAFF Cup, only causing more resentment from football fans and senior PFF members who were intent on seeing Hayat removed from office. Many suggest that Faisal Saleh Hayat is not mentally stable.[citation needed]

In October 2016, the FIFA executive committee indicated all is not well with the Faisal Saleh Hayat faction of the PFF. A FIFA spokesperson said "given the current situation, FIFA has been withholding development funding to PFF."[20]

In February 2017, the Lahore High Court restored Faisal Saleh Hayat as president of the Pakistan Football Federation.[21] The FIFA Executive Committee decided that the current PFF leadership – led by Faisal Saleh Hayat – would be given two years (until September 2017) to revise the PFF statutes and organise elections accordingly.[22]

Crisis

2015 crisis

Just before PPF elections in 2015, two groups were formed within the federation and there infighting in the federation due to which FIFA took notice and told the federation to solve the matters, being in contact with AFC. Lahore High Court (LHC) declared PFF elections to be held on 30 June 2015.[citation needed] On 30 June, the elections were declared null/void by LHC, attended by AFC observer, Sanjeevan Balasinggam. The PFF chairman Faisal Saleh Hayat said that the "Elections were approved by AFC, but the Asian governing body had no comment on the situation."[23]

Due to crisis Pakistan has not qualified for any of the international tournament since March 2015 and FIFA rankings have slumped to 198 for men's team.[24]

A normalization committee was made for the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) whose task is to hold elections of the country's football governing body and bring it would bring an end to a four-year crisis that resulted in Pakistan suffering significantly in the game.[25][26][27]

2021 crisis

On 27 March 2021, the PFF's office was attacked and people inside held hostage by its former president, Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah, and his group, and the ongoing women's championship was cancelled.[28] Major clubs protested: Diya W.F.C. announced that "laws were laid down by FIFA, PFF NC and the AFC", Mohsin Gillani W.F.C. announced it pulled out and Karachi United condemned actions taken against the NC, stating to be "fully and respectfully supportive of following due process as per FIFA directives."[29]

Suspensions

FIFA has given warnings and suspension for PFA on several occasions. FIFA had issued a warning to suspend Pakistan if the third party interference (i.e. involvement of Lahore High Court) is not ended as soon as possible.[30]

On 10 October 2017, FIFA suspended PFF with immediate effect. FIFA stated on its website:

"FIFA has decided to suspend the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect in accordance with the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council dated 10 October 2017 on account of undue third-party interference."[31]

meaning Pakistan will not be a part of any footballing activity officially until further notice is provided by the governing body.

In 2018, the ban was lifted by FIFA and Pakistan has been given the opportunity to participate in the 2018 Asian Games and the 2018 SAFF competitions.[citation needed]

On 7 April 2021, FIFA suspended the federation with immediate effect due to third-party interference, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA statutes.[32]

On 1 July 2022, FIFA lifted the ban on Pakistan Football Federation.

Competitions for men

The PFF currently runs several competitions:

Football leagues

Main article: Pakistan football league system

The Pakistan Premier League (PPL) & the Pakistan Football Federation League (PFFL) are competed between various clubs and department teams. Clubs are relegated from the PPL based on ranking and clubs are also promoted to the PPL from the PFFL based on rankings as well.

The Pakistan Premier League (PPL) is a Pakistani semi-professional league for men's association football departments and clubs which in the Pakistan football league system, is the country's top tier semi-professional football league. Contested by departments and clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the PFF League.

The Pakistan Football Federation League (PFFL) is a Pakistani semi-professional league for men's association football departments and clubs which, in the Pakistan football league system, is the country's second tier semi-professional football competition. Contested by departments and clubs as well, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Pakistan Premier League. Each season, the two top-finishing teams from club-phase and departmental-phase in the Federation League are automatically promoted to the Pakistan Premier League and the winner of the final between club-phase and departmental-phase is crowned as the Federation League champion.

The PFF National Challenge Cup is an annual semi-professional knockout football competition in men's domestic Pakistani football within the Pakistan football league system.

Competitions for women

Board of directors

Name Position
Pakistan Haroon Ahmed Malik[33] President
Vice President
Vacant General Secretary
Pakistan Adnan Us Sadiq[34] Treasurer
Pakistan Shahzad Anwar National coach (Men's)
Pakistan Adeel Rizki National coach (Women's)
Pakistan Assaam Muhammad Operation Manager
Pakistan Muhammad Raza Fazli Futsal Head
Referee Coordinator

See also

References

  1. ^ Federation, Pakistan Football. "Pakistan Football Federation". Pakfootball.org. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  2. ^ Ahsan, Ali (23 December 2010). "A history of football in Pakistan – Part I". www.dawn.com. Karachi, Pakistan: Dawn (newspaper). Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  3. ^ Ahsan, Ali (23 December 2010). "A history of football in Pakistan – Part II". www.dawn.com. Karachi, Pakistan: Dawn (newspaper). Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Member Association (Pakistan Football Federation)". saffederation.org. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Pakistan 1948". www.rsssf.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  6. ^ Ahsan, Ali (23 December 2010). "A history of football in Pakistan — Part I". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b FIFA threatens to suspend Pakistan Football Federation Archived 15 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Geo.tv, 12 July 2017
  8. ^ a b PFF headquarters should be handed over to Faisal Group: Kaleemullah Archived 14 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Thenews.co.uk, 14 July 2017
  9. ^ Nasir asks FIFA to ban Pakistan Archived 14 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Thenews.com, 1 July 2017
  10. ^ "FIFA suspends the Pakistan Football Federation". FIFA. 11 October 2017. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  11. ^ "FIFA lifts suspension on Pakistan Football Federation". The Express Tribune. 13 March 2018. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  12. ^ Wasim, Umaid (22 December 2015). "Pakistan football in 2015: A horror show on and off the pitch". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Faisal Saleh Hayat: The feudal lord of Pakistani football". The Nation. 8 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ PFF removes Faisal Saleh Hayat as president over embezzlement: report, Tribune.com.tk, 17 June 2015
  16. ^ "Lahore High Court stays PFF elections [The News]". FootballPakistan.com. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  17. ^ Wasim, Umaid (1 July 2015). "Despite LHC stay order, Hayat's PFF holds elections". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  18. ^ Wasim, Umaid (20 August 2015). "Hayat's PFF seeks AFC influence for favourable FIFA decision". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  19. ^ Yaqoob, Umaid Wasim | Mohammad (1 August 2015). "FIFA-AFC mission set to arrive today amid PFF crisis". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  20. ^ Wasim, Umaid (2 October 2016). "FIFA acknowledges all not well in Pakistan as funding stopped". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  21. ^ "Faisal restored as PFF president, Asad asked to vacate headquarters". Thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  22. ^ "FIFA threatens to suspend Pakistan Football Federation". Geo.tv. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  23. ^ Wasim, Umaid (24 July 2015). "FIFA looking at 'possible mission' to solve PFF crisis". Dawn.com. DAWN. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  24. ^ Raheel, Natasha (15 February 2017). "Still no end to PFF crisis". Tribune.com.pk. Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  25. ^ Tribune.com.pk (29 June 2019). "FIFA appoints normalisation committee for the Pakistan Football Federation". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  26. ^ Tribune.com.pk (29 June 2019). "Fifa's normalisation committee good for Pakistan football: PFF president". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Who We Are - News - Normalisation committee appointed for the Pakistan Football Federation -". Fifa.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  28. ^ Lakhani, Faizan (28 March 2021). "National Women Football Championship called off after PFF office takeover". Geo Super. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  29. ^ Wasim, Umaid (31 March 2021). "Pakistan set for suspension as FIFA issues ultimatum to Ashfaq group". Dawn. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  30. ^ Raheel, Natasha (11 October 2017). "FIFA suspends Pakistan Football Federation". Tribune.com.pk. Tribune. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  31. ^ "FIFA suspends the Pakistan Football Federation". FIFA. FIFA. 11 October 2017. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  32. ^ "FIFA suspends Pakistan Football Federation due to third-party interference". www.aninews.in. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  33. ^ "FIFA". Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  34. ^ FIFA.com. "Member Association - Pakistan - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2020.

External links

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