LAHORE – FIFA, the world’s football governing body, has warned Pakistan of possible suspension if the illegitimate occupation of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) headquarters not be lifted and the office bearers recognised by FIFA not be permitted free access to the building by at 8:00 pm on Wednesday (March 31, 2021).
In case of non-compliance by the illegal occupants, “the matter shall be immediately submitted to the Bureau of the Council for decision, which might include the suspension of PFF on the basis of art. 16 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes,” FIFA said in a letter addressed to PFF Normalisation Committee Chairman Haroon Malik.
FIFA said it has learned of the unfortunate incidents that took place at the PFF headquarters, and during which PFF officials and employees had to be evacuated after the offices had been invaded by a group of protestors, who support Syed Ashfaq Hussain. “While FIFA strongly condemns the incidents and considers such actions to be totally unacceptable, we would like to remind all relevant parties, in particular the individuals who invaded the PFF premises, that the Normalisation Committee of PFF, established by a decision of the Bureau of the Council and later ratified by the FIFA Council, and which is currently led by your person, is the sole executive body of PFF recognised by FIFA,” read the letter.
“Furthermore, we would like to inform you about a correspondence dated 28 March 2021 that FIFA received today in which it is alleged that an extraordinary Congress was held on 26 March 2021 by certain Members of the PFF, and during which a decision was apparently taken to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain. In view of the above, FIFA further considers that the illegitimate occupation of the PFF headquarters as well as any decision to take over the leadership of the PFF from the normalisation committee appointed by FIFA, constitutes an undue interference in the affairs of the federation, therefore, violating the obligations imposed on PFF by art. 14 par. 1 let. i) and art. 19 of the FIFA Statutes.”
FIFA said the suspension would mean that the PFF loses all of its membership rights, as defined in art. 13 of the FIFA Statutes, with immediate effect and until further notice, including, but not limited to, the right of PFF’s national teams or any of its clubs to participate in any international competitions, as well as the right of PFF and its Members to benefit from FIFA’s financial/development programmes.
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