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FIFA’s desire to amend constitution of Pakistan Football Federation raises questions of fair play
A FIFA logo next to the entrance during part I of the FIFA Council Meeting 2016 at the FIFA headquarters on October 13, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images)
PESHAWAR, February 6, 2025 - Football in Pakistan has become a game of ping-pong between the Normalization Committee, FIFA and Pakistan Football Federation Congress. The global football body is facing intense criticism within the country, with allegations that FIFA’s desire for proposed amendments in the national federation’s election process is not only an attack on a sovereign nation but also against the core spirit of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Over the years, the creation of the Normalization Committee has derailed football in Pakistan, going against democratic norms. According to cautious estimates, FIFA has provided over $5 million to the committee, though the exact figures can only be confirmed by FIFA. However, instead of conducting timely elections, years have been wasted on this process, which, according to experts, could have been completed within six months.
When the scrutiny process was completed, elections were to be held, but FIFA now wants amendments in the constitution of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), which the PFF Congress has rejected. For example, FIFA seeks to allow individuals outside the current Congress to contest for the PFF presidency. In contrast, the majority of Congress members have proposed that Article 38 of the PFF constitution—related to the election of the federation’s president—should only allow candidates from within the existing Congress and provincial executive committees to contest.
Congress members, including department representatives, have expressed concerns that expanding the eligibility criteria for the presidential elections could invite governmental and political interference. The question arises: if Congress, the supreme body of the federation, has rejected the proposed amendments, how can FIFA force these changes to appoint a preferred candidate as PFF president? Elections across the country, including the scrutiny process, have already been conducted in accordance with the constitution. It is now Congress’s responsibility to decide which amendments to accept and which to reject.
Back in 2014, FIFA approved the PFF constitution because it aligned with FIFA’s own guidelines. However, it now seems that FIFA’s priorities have changed. A critical question arises: can someone be made FIFA president without being a member of FIFA’s Congress? The clear answer is no. If that were possible, presidents of various countries would start vying for the position of FIFA president. It is surprising that FIFA wants to keep the position of PFF president open to outsiders, seemingly to appoint a preferred candidate.
Experts point out that the International Olympic Committee grants national Olympic committees the freedom to create and implement their own constitutions. However, FIFA is trying to impose its decisions on the national federation. This approach is fostering resentment against FIFA within Pakistan and encouraging resistance among players, which is detrimental to the growth of football in the country.
Experts further argue that since Congress has already rejected the amendments, there is no justification for repeatedly calling meetings to pressure stakeholders. Due to FIFA’s pressure, the PFF elections have been delayed, which is highly problematic. Some experts also highlight that once an amendment is rejected, it cannot be reintroduced within six months. This suggests that the Normalization Committee may not be interested in conducting PFF elections, preferring to maintain its own control over the affairs.
In another interesting move the FIFA-appointed, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalization Committee, Chairman Haroon Malik has said that due to the deadlock between FIFA and PFF's newly elected Congress, FIFA may conditionally suspend Pakistan.
The NC chairman shared this while giving a briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC). He said that this development will cause Pakistan to at least lose its international participation and stoppage of the FIFA's financial support to the PFF.
He said: "The FIFA wants to make some amendments to the PFF Constitution to bring it in line with international standards. In the recent efforts, the majority of the newly-elected PFF Congress members have not agreed to FIFA’s proposals."
He also briefed the Standing Committee on the election process within the Pakistan Football Federation from the district level onwards. He informed the Committee that all elections have been completed and the elected Congress members will oversee the next phase.
Over the years, the creation of the Normalization Committee has derailed football in Pakistan, going against democratic norms. According to cautious estimates, FIFA has provided over $5 million to the committee, though the exact figures can only be confirmed by FIFA. However, instead of conducting timely elections, years have been wasted on this process, which, according to experts, could have been completed within six months.
When the scrutiny process was completed, elections were to be held, but FIFA now wants amendments in the constitution of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), which the PFF Congress has rejected. For example, FIFA seeks to allow individuals outside the current Congress to contest for the PFF presidency. In contrast, the majority of Congress members have proposed that Article 38 of the PFF constitution—related to the election of the federation’s president—should only allow candidates from within the existing Congress and provincial executive committees to contest.
Congress members, including department representatives, have expressed concerns that expanding the eligibility criteria for the presidential elections could invite governmental and political interference. The question arises: if Congress, the supreme body of the federation, has rejected the proposed amendments, how can FIFA force these changes to appoint a preferred candidate as PFF president? Elections across the country, including the scrutiny process, have already been conducted in accordance with the constitution. It is now Congress’s responsibility to decide which amendments to accept and which to reject.
Back in 2014, FIFA approved the PFF constitution because it aligned with FIFA’s own guidelines. However, it now seems that FIFA’s priorities have changed. A critical question arises: can someone be made FIFA president without being a member of FIFA’s Congress? The clear answer is no. If that were possible, presidents of various countries would start vying for the position of FIFA president. It is surprising that FIFA wants to keep the position of PFF president open to outsiders, seemingly to appoint a preferred candidate.
Experts point out that the International Olympic Committee grants national Olympic committees the freedom to create and implement their own constitutions. However, FIFA is trying to impose its decisions on the national federation. This approach is fostering resentment against FIFA within Pakistan and encouraging resistance among players, which is detrimental to the growth of football in the country.
Experts further argue that since Congress has already rejected the amendments, there is no justification for repeatedly calling meetings to pressure stakeholders. Due to FIFA’s pressure, the PFF elections have been delayed, which is highly problematic. Some experts also highlight that once an amendment is rejected, it cannot be reintroduced within six months. This suggests that the Normalization Committee may not be interested in conducting PFF elections, preferring to maintain its own control over the affairs.
In another interesting move the FIFA-appointed, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalization Committee, Chairman Haroon Malik has said that due to the deadlock between FIFA and PFF's newly elected Congress, FIFA may conditionally suspend Pakistan.
The NC chairman shared this while giving a briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC). He said that this development will cause Pakistan to at least lose its international participation and stoppage of the FIFA's financial support to the PFF.
He said: "The FIFA wants to make some amendments to the PFF Constitution to bring it in line with international standards. In the recent efforts, the majority of the newly-elected PFF Congress members have not agreed to FIFA’s proposals."
He also briefed the Standing Committee on the election process within the Pakistan Football Federation from the district level onwards. He informed the Committee that all elections have been completed and the elected Congress members will oversee the next phase.
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