Pakistani Football Faces Uncertain Future As FIFA Mulls Suspension Due To SC’s ‘Third-Party Interference’ 

Pakistan Football has once again come under the cross-fire of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Pakistani Supreme Court, reports the DNA. The governing body of International Football has warned the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) that they would face another ban if the body conducts elections on the directives of their Supreme Court.

FIFA views the elections, held under the order of the court as an third-party interference in affairs of the PFF, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed, while adding that the election would be an violation of FIFA’s constitution for its member nations.

Since 2015, football in Pakistan has been a victim of politics and internal conflicts. The SC appointed a returning officer to conduct fresh elections. FIFA, on the other hand, say that the current PFF President, Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, needs to be allowed to complete his tenure without any "third party" interference, in this case, the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

"We can confirm that FIFA has today sent a letter to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) stating that the Order issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on 14 November , 2018 seems to be incompatible with the decision taken by the FIFA Member Associations Committee on September 26, 2018", a spokesperson of FIFA said in an e-mail.

The FIFA mail further added, "Therefore, should elections at the PFF take place on a date that is imposed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, this would be considered undue influence in the sense of the FIFA Statutes. Consequently the matter would then be presented to the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and possible action, which may include the suspension of the PFF."

Earlier Pakistan’s membership was suspended for an brief period, until the Supreme Court, in a judgement, asked the Lahore High Court administrator to return the control of the administration back to Hayat.