March 14 – FIFA has lifted the suspension of the Pakistani Football Federation (PFF). The decision was communicated to the PFF and follows on from a decision of the Lahore High Court ordering the handover of control of the PFF from a court-appointed administrator to the winners of the election held 20 June 2015.
According to a letter from FIFA’s secretary general Fatma Samoura, addressed to the PFF: “The suspension of the PFF is lifted with immediate effect. This means that all of PFF’s membership rights have been reinstated, as defined in art. 13 of the FIFA Statutes, with immediate effect. PFF’s representative and club teams are again entitled to take part in international competitions.”
“PFF’s members and officials may benefit from development programmes, courses and training from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Finally, FIFA member associations may again enter into sporting contact with PFF and/or its teams.”
The PFF was suspended after a decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council dated 10 October 2017 on account of undue third-party interference due to the PFF offices and its accounts coming under control of a court-appointed administrator.
The FIFA decision has been expected since the Lahore High Court directed the court-appointed administrator “to immediately handover the control of the PFF in terms of the election result of 30.06.2015.”
Despite the lifting of the suspension, further FIFA action may well need to be taken as the PFF remains riven by rival factions and new elections need to be arranged. This is alluded to by Fatma Samoura who concludes her letter to the PFF, saying: “Lastly, please take note that any possible further steps with regard to the situation of the PFF will be communicated in due course.”
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