The much-anticipated Extraordinary Congress of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), initially scheduled for November 19, 2024, was postponed at the eleventh hour, leaving football fans surprised. The decision, announced through a press release by the PFF Normalization Committee (NC), attributed the postponement to concerns raised by representatives of various member departments about the voting process and constitutional amendments.
The PFF NC, under the leadership of Haroon Malik and guided by FIFA and AFC, sought to amend the PFF constitution to ease restrictions on election participation, particularly for the presidency. However, these proposed changes sparked concerns from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and several elected members across departments, who argued that the amendments required deeper discussion to ensure fairness and inclusivity.
Related: A Week of Chaos: Inside the PFF’s Battle with the PSB
In response to these concerns, FIFA and AFC officials deemed it necessary to delay the Congress, prioritizing transparency and strict adherence to the PFF statutes. According to the PFF NC, this step is crucial for maintaining integrity in the electoral process, which aims to establish a fair and inclusive platform for all stakeholders.
The NC reassured the football community of its commitment to upholding the principles of transparency and fairness. Updates regarding the rescheduling of the Congress will be shared in due course, the NC added in the statement.
This development highlights the never-ending saga of Pakistan football, where electing a PFF chief seems as elusive as the national team scoring a goal in a World Cup match—lots of gossip, no actual results.