FIFA bans Pakistan Football Federation

Sports Desk: FIFA has suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect as a result of 'undue third-party interference'.

Football's world governing body has strict rules about its member associations maintaining their independence and being free from outside influences and government interference.

Dogged by allegations of corruption for years, the PFF has been run by a court-appointed administrator since 2015 after the organisation was split into two warring factions.

FIFA has repeatedly asked the PFF to resolve the row and hold new elections but its patience has now run out.

A statement by FIFA read: 'FIFA has decided to suspend the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect on account of undue third-party interference. 

'PFF offices and its accounts remain in control of a court-appointed administrator which constitutes a violation of its obligations to manage its affairs independently and without influence from any third parties.'

The suspension will be lifted once the PFF regains access to its offices and accounts.

In the meantime, Pakistan's national team and clubs are banned from international competitions, the PFF is excluded from FIFA development programmes, its officials are unable to take part in any courses run by FIFA or the Asian Football Confederation and no other FIFA member can 'entertain sporting contact' with Pakistan.

Ranked 156th in the world in 2009, Pakistan has now fallen to 200th as result and were knocked out in the first round of Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup to Yemen in March 2015.

In recent years, FIFA has suspended the football associations of Cameroon, Kuwait, Mali, Nigeria and Sudan for similar reasons, although only Kuwait remains banned.

Agencies



risingbd/Dhaka/Oct 11, 2017/Nasim