Pakistani international footballer was hit by a third FIFA suspension within eight years, just a month before he was scheduled to begin qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, and was later in the sport’s wilderness after being hit by a third FIFA suspension within eight years. Faces the spell.
FIFA recently announced its latest ban after the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) assembly refused to change its constitution on January 25th. In 2017 and 2021, similar punishments will last five and 14 months respectively.
“It’s no surprise that Pakistani football has a power struggle with people who don’t promote and care for the game,” Pakistan’s international Navid Rahman told The Associated Press.
“FIFA and AFC should take part in their responsibility as this is a recurring issue that should have been sorted out previously.”
In 2017 and 2021, FIFA banned Pakistan due to third-party interference in the implementation of PFF. In 2019, FIFA established a regularization committee to run Pakistani football and organize PFF elections. With no elections yet, the committee is still in place.
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Also, since 2019 there have been no national leagues in countries with over 250 million people, and no national team games played from home for eight years since 2015.
That barren run ended in 2023 when Pakistan defeated Cambodia in Islamabad and first advanced to the second round of World Cup qualifying. It meant six more official international equipment and optimism for the future.
“As soon as there is a little traction that develops in Pakistani football, something happens,” Rahman said. “For players of my age, the last decade has been terrible. There have been three FIFA bans and a global pandemic. A lot of time has been taken away from us.”
Pakistan, number 198 of FIFA’s 210-ranked national teams, was scheduled to begin qualifying for the Asian Cup against Syria on March 25th. Asian soccer organizers say that if national teams compete, the ban must be lifted by March 4th. .
There may be a chance. The PFF has decided to hold an extraordinary parliament in Lahore on February 27th. There, “Revision of the PFF Constitution as suggested by FIFA and the AFC” is on the agenda, according to a letter dated February 12th, sent by Muhammad Shahid Nias Hokar. , deputy secretary of PFF lawmakers and members of the council.
Development is welcomed by players.
“Asian Cup Qualifiers are huge,” Rahman said. “The problem with the national team is the lack of official games. Now is the time to have a permanent solution to enable football to resume and we should move on with anything that requires elections.”
