FIFA lifts ban on Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has lifted ban on Pakistan with immediate effect, reinstating all the membership rights of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).

In a letter addressed to the PFF secretary Ahmad Yar Lodhi, Secretary General FIFA Fatma Samoura Tuesday said that Pakistan’s membership has been restored with immediate effect as the country has met all the requirements that were obligatory.

“We have learnt that Lahore High Court has directed the court-appointed administrator to hand over the control to the PFF (genuinely elected officials) in terms of election June 30, 2015.

“Secondly according to your letter (dated March 6, 2018) the elected body of PFF has successfully taken over the control of the PFF as a result the suspension of PFF is lifted with immediate effect. This means that all the PFF rights have been reinstated as defined in article 13 of the FIFA Statutes.

“Consequently, the PFF’s representatives and club teams are again entitled to take part in international competitions. “This also means that PFF members and officials may benefit from development programmes, courses and training from FIFA and Asian Football Confederation. All the FIFA member countries have been allowed to enter into sporting relations with Pakistan,” a letter from Fatma received by the PFF headquarters on Tuesday said.

In an exclusive interview with ‘The News’ on March 6, PFF president Faisal Saleh Hayat hoped to get FIFA ban lifted within weeks.Beaming president PFF termed the ban lifting a big achievement for Pakistan football family.

“Usually it takes months but I made sure that the FIFA lifts ban on Pakistan before going into their meeting in South America next week. I am thankful to Almighty Allah for this big achievement at the outset of our retaking PFF offices in Lahore,” Faisal Saleh Hayat said.

He added that he had promised ‘The News’ last week to restore FIFA membership and succeeded in that. “I have kept up my promise. In a couple of days time we would unveil all the future plans and roadmap that would take us back to international competitions. “It is a victory for the entire football family,” Faisal Saleh Hayat added.