By Mohsin Rasheed
Lahore, April 10, 2025 — In a landmark development for Pakistan’s footballing landscape, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has officially unveiled its amended Constitution 2025, signaling a comprehensive restructuring of governance, administration, and judicial mechanisms within the organization.
The release marks a major turning point for PFF, as the new constitution aims to bring the federation in line with international football governance standards and rectify longstanding structural inefficiencies. Spanning six detailed chapters, the new document reflects a significant shift towards transparency, professionalism, and accountability.
A Revamped Legal & Advisory Framework
One of the pivotal features of the constitution is the strengthening of legal oversight. The formation of a dedicated Legal Committee, comprising a Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and three members, will now assist the Executive Committee on all legal matters. Their mandate includes advising on statutes and ensuring compliance with national and international legal frameworks relevant to football. In addition, Ad-hoc Committees can now be formed by the Executive Committee for specific, time-bound assignments — a provision that adds operational flexibility in dealing with urgent or exceptional issues.
The Secretariat
The PFF Secretariat, under the leadership of the General Secretary, is now officially established as the core administrative engine of the federation. The General Secretary, appointed by the Executive Committee based on the President’s proposal, holds expansive responsibilities ranging from implementing decisions of the Congress and Executive Committee to managing correspondence with stakeholders like FIFA, AFC, and affiliated members.
Key provisions include:
- Managing finances up to Rs. 50,000 for contingency needs.
- Overseeing appointments and dismissals of secretariat staff.
- Serving as an ex-officio secretary to all federation committees.
Supporting the General Secretary, two Associate Secretaries will assist in daily operations — both appointed by the Executive Committee upon the President’s recommendation.
Judicial Bodies
Perhaps most significant in terms of governance reform is the establishment of independent Judicial Bodies. The Constitution now mandates two key judicial arms:
- Disciplinary Committee
- Appeal Committee
Both committees are structured to ensure legal independence. Members cannot be part of the Congress or standing committees, and both the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen must possess legal qualifications.
Their authority spans a wide disciplinary scope, including sanctions on players, officials, clubs, and agents. Disciplinary actions include match suspensions, bans, fines, and in serious cases, expulsion.
Financial Discipline and Transparency
The Constitution introduces stringent financial protocols to foster sustainability and transparency.
Key financial reforms include:
- Annual financial period set from January 1st to December 31st.
- Creation of reserves to guarantee PFF’s future operations.
- Appointment of independent auditors for a renewable four-year term to inspect PFF accounts in accordance with modern accounting standards.
PFF’s revenue streams are officially documented, including membership subscriptions, sponsorships, donations, marketing rights, and fines. The Finance Committee will oversee budgets, while members are now liable for annual dues by January 1st every year.
Additionally, the PFF reserves the right to settle dues by debiting member assets and may also impose levies on matches to support operational expenses.
Code of Discipline
The constitution clearly outlines disciplinary measures for both natural and legal persons. For individuals, the sanctions range from reprimands and fines to bans from stadiums and football-related activity. Clubs and organizations may face transfer bans, closed-door matches, or loss of home-ground privileges in serious cases.
New Beginnings?
The newly released Constitution 2025 is arguably the most substantial reform effort in PFF’s recent history. It arrives amid years of administrative disputes, allegations of mismanagement, and global embarrassment on the footballing front.
While the new structure is robust on paper, the true test will be its implementation. Will the federation finally pivot from political infighting to professional delivery? Can these changes restore the faith of players, fans, and international bodies in Pakistan’s football institutions?
Time will tell — but for now, the ball is firmly in the federation’s court.