October 11 – Pakistan has been kicked out of international football until further notice because of what FIFA described as “undue third-party interference” in the country’s federation (PFF).
FIFA said in a statement that the PFF offices and accounts “remain in control of a court-appointed administrator, which constitutes a violation of the PFF obligations to manage its affairs independently and without influence from any third parties in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.”
“The suspension will be lifted once the PFF offices and access to the PFF accounts are returned to the PFF.”
The suspension imposed by the Bureau of the FIFA Council means no Pakistani teams can take part in international competitions – though none have for more than three seasons.
Just as significantly the federation will not be able to benefit from any FIFA training and development programmes, though these had already been suspended.
Despite its size and the world’s sixth largest nation by population, Pakistan is ranked 200th of FIFA’s 211 member nations and the men’s national team has not played a full international since a 0-0 draw with Yemen in a World Cup qualifier in March 2015.
The federation has been in turmoil ever since the election of Faisal Saleh Hayat as its president in 2015 amid allegations of vote-rigging.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713881979labto1713881979ofdlr1713881979owedi1713881979sni@w1713881979ahsra1713881979w.wer1713881979dna1713881979
