FIFA has suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect

FIFA on Wednesday banned the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect due to “undue third-party interference”. Until the suspension is lifted; Pakistan’s national and club teams would not be eligible to take part in international competitions, the world governing body announced on Wednesday.

A group of football officials led by Ashfaq Hussain; which was elected by the Supreme Court in 2018 to run the PFF but was not recognized by FIFA; took over the headquarters recently and seized control from the FIFA Normalisation Committee headed by Haroon Malik, local media reported.

FIFA said in a statement on Wednesday; that its decision to suspend the PFF was prompted by the “hostile takeover”; which constituted a serious violation of its statutes.

“FIFA issued a letter warning that, should the illegitimate occupation of the PFF headquarters not be lifted and the office bearers recognized by FIFA not be permitted free access to the building to carry out their mandate, the matter would be immediately submitted to the Bureau of the Council for decision,” FIFA said.

“As the situation remains unchanged, the Bureau of the Council has decided to suspend the PFF.”

Moreover, with the FIFA ban, none of the PFF”s members or officials can benefit from developmental grants or training courses from FIFA or Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

FIFA said the latest suspension will only be lifted once it has received confirmation from the normalization committee that the PFF premises, accounts, administration, and communication channels are again under its full control.

Pakistan’s men’s national team hasn’t played a match; since 2015 with their FIFA rank being at an all-time low of 200. Notably, there is no professional league in the country.