PFF’s NC continues to play with Pak football’s destiny

ISLAMABAD: Another extension and another failure to honour the given mandate, which was to complete the formalities involved in holding the Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) elections, the Normalization Committee (NC) is now seeking and probably will get another extension to continue playing with the Pakistan football’s fortunes for a few more months.

Pakistan football is once again at the mercy of an NC that has consistently failed to meet its obligations. A serious and true approach to the given mandate could have ensured timely completion of the PFF elections. Sunday marked the end of the NC’s legal tenure, yet its Chairman Haroon Malik is determined to retain control for another four months. While the FIFA has yet to formally announce the extension, sources say that it is imminent.

Haroon, who has led the NC since January 2021, repeatedly promised timely elections, most recently committing to a December 9 deadline for the PFF Congress to elect new office-bearers. That promise, like many others, remains unfulfilled. Months after months and years after years the same story has been repeated since he took over NC’s charge in January 2021. Admitted that the year 2021 was not the ideal one to hold the elections because of the infighting.

In the past three years, despite having full control and favorable conditions, the NC has failed to deliver. Instead, it has relied on excuses to prolong its tenure, seemingly to secure influence in Pakistan football’s future structure. Critics argue this delay aligns with the NC’s intent to embed itself in the democratic setup of the PFF.

Amid all these extensions, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Ministry for IPC have also played a questionable role in the prolonged impasse. While the PSB pushed the NC to notify elected Congress members, its and the IPC Ministry’s liaison with FIFA has been lackluster. FIFA’s reluctance to engage directly with the government underscores their ineffectiveness.

Meanwhile, repeated PSB warnings to expedite the election process have been ignored by the NC, highlighting the lack of accountability. Under Haroon, the NC’s tenure has been marred by inefficiency and controversy. Beyond election delays, its handling of Pakistan football’s affairs has drawn sharp criticism, including from former national team head coach Stephen Constantine. The failure to organize leagues, national tournaments and provide adequate financial support to the players has disheartened football enthusiasts and stunted the game’s development.

While the NC receives $50,000 monthly for administrative expenses and extra amount as members’ salaries, players and staff struggle without financial backing. This mismanagement has deterred youth from pursuing the sport, as the absence of consistent club-level activities has sapped morale across the country.