The trouble in Pakistan football is looming large, as the trouble depends on the football association now. Just days after the ban by FIFA, now AFC (Asian Football Confederation) might not allow Pakkistan to take part in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. This stage of the tournament is important for all the teams that want to play in the Asian Cup in 2027. Failing to take part will lead Pakistan to lose hopes for the AFC Asia Cup. This news is confirmed by Pakistani journalist Faizan Lakhani.
AFC sends warning to Pakistan Football
AFC has sent a warning to Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Monday. “Notwithstanding the above, as stated in the FIFA Circular, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has suspended the PFF with effect from 6 February 2025 until further notice. As a result, in accordance with Article 13 of the FIFA Statutes and Articles 11.3 and 11.7 of the AFC Statutes, the PFF has lost all its membership rights resulting in, inter alia, the PFF representatives and clubs/teams no longer being entitled to participate in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.” He said.
AFC also confirmed that, currently, the Pakistan cricket team is not eligible to participate in any of the AFC tournaments. “Accordingly, we must inform you that the PFF’s men’s national team is currently not eligible to participate in the AC27QFR.” they added.
FIFA bans PFF for third time
FIFA has banned the Pakistan Football Federation for the third time on 6th Feburary 2025. FIFA believes that PFF is having political interference and failure of maintaining with the PFF constitution “The PFF has been suspended with immediate effect due to its failure to adopt a revision of the PFF Constitution that would ensure truly fair and democratic elections and thereby fulfil its obligations as mandated by FIFA as part of the ongoing normalisation process of PFF.” FIFA said.
FIFA stopped working with the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) in 2017 and 2021 because outsiders were interfering in its matters. The last ban was removed in 2022 when the PFF’s Normalisation Committee announced that they had taken back full control over the federation’s money and offices.
