PFF executive council majority calls crucial meeting

ISLAMABAD: The majority group within the Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) Executive Council, enjoying a clear two-thirds dominance, has called a meeting in Islamabad during the first week of November to address mounting governance, financial, and administrative challenges confronting Pakistan football.

According to highly placed sources, the powerful bloc which commands majority support both in the Council and the Congress has decided to take “firm and unified action” on key matters that could shape the future of the game’s management in the country. “Yes, the group that holds an absolute majority in the PFF Executive Council will be meeting in Islamabad within the next few days,” a senior member of the Council confirmed to The News. “We are united and determined to take all necessary steps in the best interest of Pakistan football. The time has come to make decisive calls for the sport’s future.”

The agenda include FIFA’s directive for a comprehensive audit of the PFF Normalization Committee’s (NC) last two years of financial operations, an audit that remains pending despite repeated reminders from Zurich.

Sources said that FIFA has warned that no future funding will be released until a verified audit report is received, putting the entire structure of football development at risk. “The audit delay is unacceptable. It has created unnecessary complications, not only for FIFA’s trust but also for the smooth functioning of the Federation,” a senior official said. “There are also concerns over the prolonged delay in appointing the PFF Secretary, which is hampering operational matters.”

The timing of the meeting coincides with the expected arrival of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who is scheduled to visit Pakistan from November 4 to 7. The gathering of majority members, sources claim, could set the tone for crucial discussions around the high-profile visit.

The PFF currently faces multiple challenges, particularly financial instability that has paralysed grassroots programmes and player development. Reports emerging from the PFF headquarters suggest that coaches remain unpaid, while players are struggling to receive their daily allowances.

“Football’s development has been pushed to the background due to ongoing legal battles and poor financial management,” one Council member lamented. “We have reached a point where activities at the grassroots are virtually non-existent. The meeting aims to restore order, accountability, and direction.”

The group’s huddle is expected to lay down a roadmap to revive Pakistan football’s administrative integrity, restore FIFA’s confidence, and reopen financial channels essential for sustaining the game. “This is not just another meeting,” a senior insider remarked.