PFF’s extraordinary congress meeting today

KARACHI: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is convening its extraordinary congress meeting on Thursday (today) at FIFA House here with an aim for the members to follow international rules.

This crucial meeting aims to address the ongoing challenges facing Pakistan football and pave the way for the country’s reintegration into the global football community. A high-profile delegation from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will be in attendance, including Vahid Kardany, Deputy General Secretary (AFC), Rolf Tanner, Head of MA Governance (FIFA), Purushottam Kattel, Head of South Asia Unit (AFC), Sonam Jigmi, Senior Manager of South Asia Unit (AFC), and Dinish De Silva, Manager of South Asia Unit (AFC).

The meeting will be convened by Chairman of the Normalization Committee (NC), Saud Azeem Hashimi, along with NC members Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar and Haris Azmat. The key agenda items for the Congress include the revision of the PFF Constitution (2014) in line with FIFA and AFC recommendations, as well as the approval of minutes from the Extraordinary Congress held on January 24, 2025. A crucial outcome of this Congress will be Pakistan’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, which remains contingent upon the lifting of FIFA’s suspension on PFF.

The Congress has been convened in direct response to the FIFA Council’s letter dated February 6, 2025, which stipulates that the suspension can only be lifted upon the approval of the revised constitution in compliance with FIFA and AFC directives. Pakistan’s football has been in turmoil due to governance issues, interference, and internal disputes within the federation, leading to repeated suspensions by FIFA. The stakes are high, as Pakistan’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers hinges on the lifting of FIFA’s suspension. The team is placed in Group E alongside Syria, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, with its opening match scheduled for March 25.