View source for Pakistan Football Federation

{{Short description|Governing body of football in Pakistan}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{National football association
| Logo                  = New2008 PFFlogo.png
| Founded               = {{start date and age|df=yes|1947|12|5}}
| Headquarters          = [[FIFA House Lahore]]
| FIFA affiliation      = 1948
| Region                = [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]
| Region affiliation    = 1954
| Subregion             = [[South Asian Football Federation|SAFF]]
| Subregion affiliation = 1997
| President             = Mohsen Gilani
| Vice-President        = {{ubl|Naveed Aslam Khan Lodhi|Hafiz Zakaullah|Dr. Mohammad Ali}}
| Social Media Director = Rana Atshan Ahmed
| Website               = {{official URL}}
| Membership            = 7 (Provincial associations including [[Islamabad Football Association]])
}}

The '''Pakistan Football Federation''' ('''PFF''') is the national governing body of [[association football]] in [[Football in Pakistan|Pakistan]].<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakfootball.org/index.php|title=Pakistan Football Federation|website=Pakistan Football Federation|access-date=2018-05-08|archive-date=9 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509014338/https://www.pakfootball.org/index.php|url-status=live}}</ref> It is a member of [[FIFA]], the international governing body of [[Association football|football]], and affiliated to the [[Asian Football Confederation]] and [[South Asian Football Federation]]. The federation was founded in 1947; it also manages the [[futsal]] and [[beach soccer]] national teams.

==History==
{{main|Football in Pakistan}}
Upon Pakistan's [[Independence of Pakistan|independence in 1947]], both [[East Pakistan|East]] and [[West Pakistan|West]] wings of the country inherited the football infrastructure of the [[British Raj]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Ali|last=Ahsan|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/593095/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-i|title=A history of football in Pakistan – Part I|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|date=23 December 2010|access-date=1 March 2014|location=Karachi, Pakistan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904220323/https://www.dawn.com/2010/12/23/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-i/|archive-date=4 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Ali|last=Ahsan|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/593096/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-ii|title=A history of football in Pakistan – Part II|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|date=23 December 2010|access-date=1 March 2014|location=Karachi, Pakistan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905115633/https://www.dawn.com/2010/12/23/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-ii/|archive-date=5 September 2022}}</ref> The need for establishing a nationwide football association to govern the game properly was urgent, since [[India]] had inherited the erstwhile [[Calcutta]]-based [[Indian Football Association]] and the [[All India Football Federation|All-India Football Federation (AIFF)]].

Thus, on 5 December 1947 the Pakistan Football Federation was created. [[Mohammad Ali Jinnah]], Pakistan's first [[Governor-General of Pakistan|Governor-General]], became the patron-in-chief, and in 1948, the PFF became affiliated with [[FIFA]].<ref name="sports.gov.pk">{{cite web |title=Govt Sports Portal |url=http://www.sports.gov.pk/Introduction/Intro_Football.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924104815/http://www.sports.gov.pk/Introduction/Intro_Football.htm |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=2014-03-01 |publisher=Sports.gov.pk}}</ref> It was also one of the founding members of the [[Asian Football Confederation]] in 1954.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Member Association (Pakistan Football Federation)|url=https://saffederation.org/member-association/12|access-date=2022-01-22|website=saffederation.org|archive-date=22 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122134008/https://saffederation.org/member-association/12|url-status=live}}</ref> PFF organized the first [[National Football Championship (Pakistan)|National Football Championship]] from 28 May to 5 June 1948 in [[Karachi]], with Sindh Red beating Sindh Blue in the final.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pakistan 1948|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/paki48.html|access-date=2022-01-22|website=[[RSSSF]]|archive-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826025510/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesp/paki48.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ahsan|first=Ali|date=2010-12-23|title=A history of football in Pakistan — Part I|url=https://www.dawn.com/2010/12/23/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-i/|access-date=2022-01-22|work=DAWN.COM|language=en|archive-date=27 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327192152/http://dawn.com/2010/12/23/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-i/|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, the game could not develop as smoothly as it should have.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=A history of football in Pakistan – Part III |date=23 December 2010 |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/593100/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-iii |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301035006/http://www.dawn.com/news/593100/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-iii |archive-date=1 March 2014 |access-date=2014-03-01 |publisher=Dawn.com}}</ref> [[Pakistan]]'s participation in international competitions has not been regular. The standard achieved in the early 1950s could not be maintained because of lack of organization of the game.<ref name=":0" />

==Competitions==
=== Men's senior ===
* [[Pakistan Premier League]]
* [[PFF League|PFF League B Division]]
* [[Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup|PFF National Challenge Cup]]
* Pakistan Futsal League
* [[National Football Championship (Pakistan)|National Football Championship]] – defunct
* [[Geo Super Football League]] – defunct
* [[Karachi Football League]] – defunct
* [[Quaid-e-Azam International Tournament]] – defunct

=== Women's senior ===
* [[National Women Football Championship]]
* National Women Inter Club Football Championship – defunct

=== Women's junior ===
* [[Shahlyla Baloch National Women U-16 Championship]]

==National teams==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Men===
* [[Pakistan national football team]]
* [[Pakistan national football B team]]
* [[Pakistan national under-23 football team]]
* [[Pakistan national under-20 football team]]
* [[Pakistan national under-17 football team]]
* [[Pakistan national futsal team]]
* [[Pakistan national beach soccer team]]
{{col-2}}

===Women===
* [[Pakistan women's national football team]]
* [[Pakistan women's national under-20 football team]]
* [[Pakistan women's national under-17 football team]]
* [[Pakistan women's national futsal team]]
{{col-end}}

==Affiliated federations==

There are currently seven provincial associations affiliated with the PFF<ref>{{Cite web |title=Here is everything you need to know about PFF Provincial Elections |url=https://nukta.com/here-is-everything-you-need-to-know-about-pff-provincial-elections |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Nukta  |language=en}}</ref>

* [[Islamabad Football Association]]
* Punjab Football Association
* Sindh Football Association
* Balochistan Football Association
* Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Football Association
* Azad Kashmir Football Association
* Gilgit-Baltistan Football Association

==Board of directors==
The following are on the board of the directors at the PFF.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/associations/PAK|title=Pakistan Football Federation|website=FIFA}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
!Name
!Position
|-
|{{flagicon|Pakistan}} Mohsen Gilani
|President
|-
|{{flagicon|Pakistan}} Naveed Aslam Khan Lodhi
{{flagicon|Pakistan}} Hafiz Zakaullah

{{flagicon|Pakistan}} Dr. Mohammad Ali
|Vice-presidents
|-
|(vacant)
|General Secretary 
|-
|(vacant)
|Technical Director
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_England.svg|link=England|alt=England|class=mw-file-element|23x23px]] [[Stephen Constantine]]
|Head Coach (Senior Men's)
|-
|{{flagicon|Pakistan}} Adeel Rizki <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.geosuper.tv/latest/27889-pff-names-womens-squad-for-saudi-arabia-tour-retains-rizki-as-coach-despite-criticism | title=PFF names women's squad for Saudi Arabia tour, retains Rizki as coach despite criticism | date=16 September 2023 }}</ref>
|Head Coach (Senior Women's)
|-
|{{flagicon|Pakistan}} Muhammad Yashal Mazhar
|Media And Communication Manager
|-
|{{flagicon|Pakistan}} Muhammad Raza Fazli
|Director of Futsal
|-
|{{flagicon|Pakistan}} Khurram Shahzad
|Referee Coordinator
|}


== Past office bearers ==
{|
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|+President
!Name
!Tenure
!Ref
|-
|[[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]] (Patron-in-Chief)
|1948
| rowspan="17" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistan Football Federation |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404135433if_/http://www.pff.com.pk/history.php}}</ref>
|-
|[[Fazlur Rahman (politician)|Fazlurrehman]]
|1948 – 1949
|-
|[[Khurshid Anwar (Major)|Major Khursid Anwar]]
|1948 – 1949
|-
|[[Khawaja Shahabuddin]]
|1950 – 1951
|-
|[[Abdul Motaleb Malik|DR A.M.Malik]]
|1952 – 1958
|-
|Muhammad Sharif Khan
|1956 – 1958
|-
|[[Ataur Rahman Khan|Ata ur rehman]]
|1958 – 1960
|-
|[[Abdus Sattar (president)|Justice A. Sattar]]
|1960 – 1961
|-
|[[Asghar Khan|Air Marshal Asghar Khan]]
|1962 – 1965
|-
|[[Khan A Sabur|Khan Abdus Sabur]]
|1965 – 1972
|-
|[[Abdul Sattar Gabol]]
|1972 – 1977
|-
|[[Fida Mohammad Khan|Justice Fida Muhammad Khan]]
|1978 – 1981
|-
|[[Fazle Haq|General Fazl-e-haq]]
|1981 – 1988
|-
|[[Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao]]
|1988 – 1989
|-
|[[Wasim Sajjad]]
|1989
|-
|[[Mian Muhammad Azhar]]
|1990 – 2003
|-
|[[Faisal Saleh Hayat]]
|2003 – 2019{{efn|In 2018, Ashfaq Hussain Shah was elected by the [[Supreme Court of Pakistan]] to run the PFF, but his election was not recognised by FIFA.|name=Ashfaq}}
|-
|Mohsen Gilani
|2025 – present
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2025-05-28 |title=Mohsen wins landmark elections to become new Pakistan Football Federation president |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1913780 |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
|}
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|+General Secretary
!Name
!Tenure
!Ref
|-
|''Unknown''
|1948 – 1964
|
|-
|Maj. Malik Muhammad Hussain
|1965 – 1977
|
|-
|''Unknown''
|1978 – 1989
|
|-
|Hafiz Salman Butt
|1990 – 1994
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Yaqoob |first=Mohammad |date=2003-08-07 |title=Prominent politicians in fray for PFF presidency |url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/133991/prominent-politicians-in-fray-for-pff-presidency |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ghulam Abbas Baloch]]
|1995 – 1999
|<ref name=":6" />
|-
|[[Agha Syed Liaqat Ali]]
|1999 – 2003
|<ref name=":6" />
|-
|[[Muhammad Arshad Khan Lodhi]]
|2003 – 2007
|<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-01-30 |title=Lawmaker Arshad Lodhi dies |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1460639 |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi
|2007 – 2019
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2019-09-19 |title=Normalisation Committee removes Lodhi as PFF secretary |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1506041 |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Mujahid Tareen]]
|2019
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tareen quits as PFF acting secy |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/570208-tareen-quits-as-pff-acting-secy |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Haris Jamil Alam Khan
|2019 – 2020
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=The Newspaper's Sports |date=2019-11-16 |title=Harris appointed PFF Normalisation Committee acting secretary |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1516922 |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Manizeh Zainli]]
|2020 – 2021
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 2021 |title=PFF's first female secretary-general steps down as her contract expires |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/767656-pffs-secretary-general-steps-down |website=The News International}}</ref>
|}
|}

=== Normalization Committee ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Chairman
!Term
!Ref
|-
| Humza Khan
| 2019 – 2020
|<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Sadhana replaces Humza as PFF NC chairman |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/761384-sadhana-replaces-humza-as-pff-nc-chairman |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| Munir Ahmad Khan Sadhana 
| 2020 – 2021
|<ref name=":3" />
|-
| Haroon Malik
| 2021 – 2025
|<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2021-01-20 |title=Haroon Malik named new PFF NC chairman, three members replaced |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1602452 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Saud Hashmi
|2025
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saud Hashmi Named Chairman of PFF Normalization Committee {{!}} Nukta |url=https://nukta.com/saud-hashmi-chairman-pff-nc |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=nukta.com |language=en}}</ref>
|}

==Controversies and suspensions==
Since 1961, the Pakistan Football Federation has been accused of several corruption scandals and incompetence in running the day-to-day footballing activities in Pakistan.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2007-06-16 |title=SPORTS WORLD: AFC President's Cup: PFF must cash in on opportunity |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/3404401/sports-world-afc-presidents-cup-pff-must-cash-in-on-opportunity-20070616578331 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}</ref> Local media outlets have described the current situation of the PFF as a "horror show".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1228051|title=Pakistan football in 2015: A horror show on and off the pitch|first=Umaid|last=Wasim|date=22 December 2015|website=Dawn.com|access-date=2 September 2019|archive-date=2 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902113646/https://www.dawn.com/news/1228051|url-status=live}}</ref>
in 1968 [[FIFA|FIFA]] suspended PFF due to non-payment of Annual affiliation fees.<ref>https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/san/?a=d&d=paob19680920-01.1.12&srpos=7&e=-------en-25--1--img-txIN-kmc+football+beat---------</ref>

=== 1990s political hotbed ===
Pakistani football became a hot bed for politics in the early 1990s. In 1989, FIFA called to hold new elections after conducting an in-depth investigation in Pakistan. Atta Mohammad Pathan, a member of the [[Pakistan People's Party|Pakistan Peoples Party]], with the backing of key political figures, opposed the incumbent PFF president [[Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao]], who was also affiliated with the same party at the time. [[Benazir Bhutto]], the leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, directed Sherpao to dissolve the Pakistan Football Federation Congress, but instead, Sherpao chose to step down. [[Wasim Sajjad]], the former Senate Chairman, was appointed as the interim president of the PFF.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faisal-led PFF to file intra-court appeal |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/127980-Faisal-led-PFF-to-file-intra-court-appeal |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref>

In 1990, Pakistan Football Federation held its general elections in which [[Mian Muhammad Azhar]] won the presidency by a margin of one vote, beating the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] leader [[Faisal Saleh Hayat]]. Azhar later ousted PFF General Secretary Hafiz Salman Butt (a Member of National Assembly of [[Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan|Jamaat-e-Islami]]) in 1994 due to political rifts and alleged [[abuse of power]].<ref name=":0" /> The division between the two factions split the PFF into rival groups. Each side sent its own youth teams to compete in the [[1994 AFC Youth Championship]], which resulted in a FIFA-imposed ban on the PFF.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1994-08-02 |title=Feuding Pakistan get six-month ban |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/83322/feuding-pakistan-get-six-month-ban |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Azhar leveraged his position as president to gain FIFA's support and secure a ban on Salman from the PFF, though Salman consistently denied that FIFA had imposed a lifetime ban on him. FIFA's involvement in 1994 led to new elections for the PFF, where Azhar faced a challenge from Faisal Saleh Hayat, who was supported by Hafiz Salman. However, Azhar narrowly won by a single vote, maintaining his presidency, and went on to secure a third consecutive term in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahsan |first=Ali |date=8 September 2016 |title=Faisal Saleh Hayat: The feudal lord of Pakistani football |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/08-Sep-2016/faisal-saleh-hayat-the-feudal-lord-of-pakistani-football?version=amp |access-date=21 March 2025 |website=www.nation.com.pk}}</ref>

Between 1991 and 1994, the years were often regarded as the best administrative era of Pakistani football.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2021-01-30 |title=OBITUARY: Hafiz Salman Butt — Pakistan football's influential firebrand |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1604378 |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref> Under Hafiz Salman Butt, the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons of the [[National Football Championship (Pakistan)|National Football Championship]] structured on a proper league-style basis and spread over a number of months.<ref name="History III">{{cite web |last=Ahsan |first=Ali |date=December 23, 2010 |title=A history of football in Pakistan — Part III |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/593100 |access-date=October 8, 2018 |work=DAWN}}</ref> Butt also managed to get a three-year sponsorship deal with [[Lifebuoy (soap)|Lifebuoy Soap]], with amounts of 35 million [[Pakistani rupee|PKR]] spent in the organisations of the seasons and televised through the country.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sohail |first=Shahrukh |date=2020-08-09 |title=FOOTBALL: A LEAGUE FOR PAKISTAN FOOTBALL |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1573329 |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":12" /><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |date=2016-09-12 |title=Hafiz Salman recalls good old days of Pakistan football |url=https://nation.com.pk/13-Sep-2016/hafiz-salman-recalls-good-old-days-of-pakistan-football |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=The Nation |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1992, [[Unilever Pakistan|Lever Brothers Pakistan Limited]] also signed a sponsorship and financed the PFF to revive the National Youth Championship and ensured that football was included in the [[National Games of Pakistan]] as one of the sports, besides ensuring a spot in the [[Asian Football Confederation]] competitions.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2015-04-16 |title=ANALYSIS: Shades of past in present tussle for PFF stranglehold |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1176109 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-07-29 |title=SPORTS WORLD: Lyariites mourn Brazil's defeat: PFF striving to develop football on modern lines |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/3303250 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}</ref>

With Butt's dismissal in 1994 and ban by FIFA in 1995, Pakistani football declined again into an era of mismanagement and long-lasting lack of sponsors in the upcoming years.<ref name=":0" />

Azhar governed the federation till the 2003 elections, when he was beaten by Hayat, who was supported by Butt. By that time, Azhar had fallen out of favour from the pro-[[Pervez Musharraf|Musharraf]] [[PML-Q]] while Hayat’s own pro-Musharraf PPP faction had been growing in power in the run-up to the [[2002 Pakistani general election|2002 General Elections]] after which he became the [[Interior Minister of Pakistan]].<ref name=":0" />

===Faisal Saleh Hayat incompetence===
In August 2003, the PFF became under new management, as the politician [[Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat|Faisal Saleh Hayat]] won the elections unopposed, backed by Hafiz Salman Butt and Pakistan’s political and military elite. He has been described as a "feudal lord of Pakistani football".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nation.com.pk/08-Sep-2016/faisal-saleh-hayat-the-feudal-lord-of-pakistani-football|title=Faisal Saleh Hayat: The feudal lord of Pakistani football|date=8 September 2016|website=The Nation|access-date=2 September 2019|archive-date=2 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902112936/https://nation.com.pk/08-Sep-2016/faisal-saleh-hayat-the-feudal-lord-of-pakistani-football|url-status=live}}</ref> During his controversial tenure, Pakistan's FIFA ranking dropped from 168 in 2003 to 201 in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/associations/association=pak/men/index.html |title=The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking - Associations - Pakistan - Men's |access-date=29 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030075350/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/associations/association=PAK/men/index.html |archive-date=30 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The top division of the [[Pakistan Premier League]] also remained suspended because the crisis created due to his actions, along with the men's senior team, who remained suspended from any international competition since March 2015, and FIFA rankings of the senior team had slumped.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Din |first=Tusdiq |title=Three years without any football - can Pakistan recover? |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45390976 |access-date=2023-06-28}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Raheel |first=Natasha |date=15 February 2017 |title=Still no end to PFF crisis |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1328004/still-no-end-pff-crisis/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201045335/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1328004/still-no-end-pff-crisis/ |archive-date=1 December 2017 |access-date=22 November 2017 |website=Tribune.com.pk |publisher=Tribune}}</ref> 

=== 2015–2017 crisis ===
Just before the 2015 PFF elections, internal conflict arose, leading FIFA to demand resolution with [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]'s involvement. In June 2015, 18 of the 26 PFF members voted to dismiss Faisal Saleh Hayat for incompetence and embezzlement.<ref>[https://tribune.com.pk/story/905155/fa-head-removed-by-members-for-embezzlement-report/ PFF removes Faisal Saleh Hayat as president over embezzlement: report], ''Tribune.com.tk'', 17 June 2015</ref> The conflict began with the Punjab Football Association, where Hayat-backed Sardar Naveed Haider Khan ousted incumbent Arshad Khan Lodhi, banning several of Lodhi's voters through an illegal disciplinary committee. This led vice-president Zahir Ali Shah to oppose Hayat and run for PFF presidency, alleging that Hayat altered the PFF constitution for his benefit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2015-04-27 |title=Zahir to challenge Hayat for PFF presidency |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1178426 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>

The PFF eventually split into two groups following an Extraordinary Congress meeting that suspended Hayat. With the election approaching, the two factions announced their own election venues. The [[Lahore High Court]] was forced to intervene in and ordered a stay on polling and appointed a temporary administrator until matters were resolved between the two factions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lahore High Court stays PFF elections |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/48699-lahore-high-court-stays-pff-elections |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref> On 30 June, the elections were declared null by Lahore High Court, attended by AFC observer, Sanjeevan Balasinggam.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=24 July 2015 |title=FIFA looking at 'possible mission' to solve PFF crisis |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1195922 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033507/https://www.dawn.com/news/1195922 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |access-date=22 November 2017 |website=Dawn.com |publisher=DAWN}}</ref> The PFF chairman [[Faisal Saleh Hayat]] said that the "Elections were approved by AFC, but the Asian governing body had no comment on the situation."<ref name=":2" /> The row intensified when the Hayat faction went on and held election anyway, disobeying the Lahore High Court stay order.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=1 July 2015 |title=Despite LHC stay order, Hayat's PFF holds elections |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1191495 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902112945/https://www.dawn.com/news/1191495 |archive-date=2 September 2019 |access-date=2 September 2019 |website=Dawn.com}}</ref> [[FIFA]] then intervened and sent a fact-finding mission. They concluded that Hayat be given a mandate for two years, in which he would have to amend PFF statutes and form an independent disciplinary committee before holding elections again.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=20 August 2015 |title=Hayat's PFF seeks AFC influence for favourable FIFA decision |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1201498 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902113824/https://www.dawn.com/news/1201498 |archive-date=2 September 2019 |access-date=2 September 2019 |website=Dawn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Mohammad Yaqoob |author2=Umaid Wasim |date=1 August 2015 |title=FIFA-AFC mission set to arrive today amid PFF crisis |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1197628 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902113005/https://www.dawn.com/news/1197628 |archive-date=2 September 2019 |access-date=2 September 2019 |website=Dawn.com}}</ref>

The Lahore High Court appointed administrator Asad Munir was given authority to manage football activity in Pakistan, while the two factions sorted out differences. Hayat's faction withdrew Pakistan from the [[2015 SAFF Championship|2015 SAFF Cup]], only causing more resentment from football fans and senior PFF members who were intent on seeing Hayat removed from office.

By October 2016, FIFA withheld development funding from PFF due to the ongoing issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2 October 2016 |title=FIFA acknowledges all not well in Pakistan as funding stopped |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1287395 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902113531/https://www.dawn.com/news/1287395 |archive-date=2 September 2019 |access-date=2 September 2019 |website=Dawn.com}}</ref> In February 2017, the Lahore High Court reinstated Hayat as PFF president, with FIFA giving him until September 2017 to revise statutes and organize new elections.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faisal restored as PFF president, Asad asked to vacate headquarters |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/183664-Faisal-restored-as-PFF-president-Asad-asked-to-vacate-headquarters |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915204719/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/183664-Faisal-restored-as-PFF-president-Asad-asked-to-vacate-headquarters |archive-date=15 September 2017 |access-date=15 September 2017 |website=Thenews.com.pk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FIFA threatens to suspend Pakistan Football Federation |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/149132-fifa-threatens-to-suspend-pakistan-football-federation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915205202/https://www.geo.tv/latest/149132-fifa-threatens-to-suspend-pakistan-football-federation |archive-date=15 September 2017 |access-date=14 July 2017 |website=Geo.tv}}</ref>

=== 2017 FIFA suspension ===
In July 2017, FIFA threatened to suspend the PFF's membership if it kept refusing to hand football affairs to its president-elect Faisal Saleh Hayat.<ref name="auto">[https://www.geo.tv/latest/149132-fifa-threatens-to-suspend-pakistan-football-federation FIFA threatens to suspend Pakistan Football Federation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915205202/https://www.geo.tv/latest/149132-fifa-threatens-to-suspend-pakistan-football-federation|date=15 September 2017}}, ''Geo.tv'', 12 July 2017</ref><ref name="auto1">[https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/216401-PFF-headquarters-should-be-handed-over-to-Faisal-Group-Kaleemullah PFF headquarters should be handed over to Faisal Group: Kaleemullah] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914170942/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/216401-PFF-headquarters-should-be-handed-over-to-Faisal-Group-Kaleemullah|date=14 September 2022}}, ''Thenews.co.uk'', 14 July 2017</ref> Former coach [[Nasir Ismail]] also asked FIFA to hold fresh elections for the PFF's presidency.<ref>[https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/213714-Nasir-asks-FIFA-to-ban-Pakistan Nasir asks FIFA to ban Pakistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914170943/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/213714-Nasir-asks-FIFA-to-ban-Pakistan|date=14 September 2022}}, ''Thenews.com'', 1 July 2017</ref> 

On 10 October 2017, FIFA suspended PFF with immediate effect due to third-party interference, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA statutes.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 October 2017 |title=FIFA suspends the Pakistan Football Federation |url=https://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=10/news=fifa-suspends-the-pakistan-football-federation-2913299.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001425/https://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=10/news=fifa-suspends-the-pakistan-football-federation-2913299.html |archive-date=20 June 2018 |accessdate=13 August 2019 |publisher=FIFA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Raheel |first=Natasha |date=11 October 2017 |title=FIFA suspends Pakistan Football Federation |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1528451/pff-suspended-fifa/ |access-date=22 November 2017 |website=Tribune.com.pk |publisher=Tribune}}</ref>  On 13 March 2018 FIFA lifted the suspension, and Pakistan had been given the opportunity to participate in the [[2018 Asian Games]] and the [[2018 SAFF Championship|2018 SAFF]] competitions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 March 2018 |title=FIFA lifts suspension on Pakistan Football Federation |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1658977/1-fifa-lifts-suspension-pakistan-football-federation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313225724/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1658977/1-fifa-lifts-suspension-pakistan-football-federation/ |archive-date=13 March 2018 |access-date=13 March 2018 |newspaper=[[The Express Tribune]]}}</ref>

=== Supreme Court elections ===
The situation deteriorated by December 2018 as the [[Supreme Court of Pakistan]] ordered PFF elections, where Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah was elected as the PFF chief, albeit to Fifa’s wrath for this being third-party interference again.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2018-12-13 |title=Hayat's long reign ends as Ashfaq elected PFF chief |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1451065 |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>

[[Karachi United]] former captain Humza Khan was appointed as Normalization Committee for the Pakistan Football Federation in September 2019, whose task was to hold elections of the country's football governing body and bring it would bring an end to a four-year crisis that resulted in Pakistan suffering significantly in the game.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-06-29 |title=FIFA appoints normalisation committee for the Pakistan Football Federation |language=en |newspaper=[[The Express Tribune]] |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2002848/7-fifa-appoints-normalisation-committee-pakistan-football-federation/ |url-status=live |access-date=2019-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713001500/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2002848/7-fifa-appoints-normalisation-committee-pakistan-football-federation/ |archive-date=13 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-06-29 |title=Fifa's normalisation committee good for Pakistan football: PFF president |language=en |newspaper=[[The Express Tribune]] |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2002887/7-fifas-normalisation-committee-good-pakistan-football-pff-president/ |access-date=2019-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Normalisation committee appointed for the Pakistan Football Federation |url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/normalisation-committee-appointed-for-the-pakistan-football-federation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706174721/https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/normalisation-committee-appointed-for-the-pakistan-football-federation |archive-date=6 July 2019 |access-date=2019-07-06 |website=Fifa.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FIFA names body to run PFF's affairs, Hamza to be chairman |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/526115-fifa-names-body-to-run-pff-s-affairs-hamza-to-be-chairman |access-date=2024-04-26 |work=The News |language=en}}</ref> However he resigned from the post in December 2020, and was replaced by interim Munir Ahmad Khan Sadhana as chairman of the PFF Normalisation Committee, after failing to hold the PFF elections by the June 2020 deadline.<ref name=":3" /> Its mandate was extended for six months until the end of the year. In January 2021, FIFA appointed [[Pakistani Canadians|Pakistani Canadian]] Haroon Malik as new chairman of the Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=FIFA appoints Haroon Malik as PFF NC chairman |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/776821-fifa-appoints-haroon-malik-as-pff-nc-chairman |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref>

===2021 crisis and suspension===
On 27 March 2021, the [[FIFA House Lahore|PFF's office]] was attacked and people inside held hostage by its former president, Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah, and his group, and the [[2021 National Women Football Championship|ongoing women's championship]] was cancelled.<ref name="Cancellation">{{cite news
|last          = Lakhani
|first         = Faizan
|date          = 2021-03-28
|title         = National Women Football Championship called off after PFF office takeover
|url           = https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/8314-national-women-football-championship-called-off-after-pff-office-takeover
|work          = [[Geo Super]]
|access-date   = 2021-03-28
|archive-date  = 28 March 2021
|archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20210328065033/https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/8314-national-women-football-championship-called-off-after-pff-office-takeover
|url-status   = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| last         = Wasim
| first         = Umaid
| date         = 2021-03-31
| title         = Pakistan set for suspension as FIFA issues ultimatum to Ashfaq group
| url         = https://www.dawn.com/news/1615571/pakistan-set-for-suspension-as-fifa-issues-ultimatum-to-ashfaq-group
| work         = [[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]
| access-date         = 2021-04-03
| archive-date         = 31 March 2021
| archive-url         = https://web.archive.org/web/20210331130410/https://www.dawn.com/news/1615571/pakistan-set-for-suspension-as-fifa-issues-ultimatum-to-ashfaq-group
| url-status         = live
}}</ref>  

On 7 April 2021, FIFA suspended the federation with immediate effect due to third-party interference, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA statutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIFA suspends Pakistan Football Federation due to third-party interference |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/football/fifa-suspends-pakistan-football-federation-due-to-third-party-interference20210407134924/?amp=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230173502/https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/football/fifa-suspends-pakistan-football-federation-due-to-third-party-interference20210407134924/?amp=1 |archive-date=30 December 2021 |access-date=2021-04-07 |website=www.aninews.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=7 April 2021 |title=FIFA suspends Pakistan Football Federation |url=https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/fifa-suspends-pakistan-football-association |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414160732/https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/fifa-suspends-pakistan-football-association |archive-date=14 April 2021 |access-date=14 April 2021 |website=[[Asian Football Confederation]]}}</ref> The suspension was lifted on 29 June 2022.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 June 2022 |title=FIFA lifts suspension of Pakistan Football Federation |url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/associations/media-releases/fifa-lifts-suspension-of-pakistan-football-federation-pff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630164452/https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/associations/media-releases/fifa-lifts-suspension-of-pakistan-football-federation-pff |archive-date=30 June 2022 |access-date=29 June 2022 |website=[[FIFA]]}}</ref>

=== 2025 suspension ===
On 6 February 2025, the federation was again suspended by [[FIFA]] due to failing to adopt a version of the PFF constitution approved by FIFA and the AFC that would have guaranteed fair elections.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 February 2025 |title=FIFA suspends the Congolese Football Association and the Pakistan Football Federation |url=https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/media-releases/fifa-suspends-congolese-football-association-pakistan-football-federation |url-status= |archive-url= |website=FIFA}}</ref> The suspension was lifted on 2 March 2025 after the PFF agreed to adopt the FIFA and AFC approved constitution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIFA lifts suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation |url=https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/media-releases/fifa-lifts-suspension-of-the-pakistan-football-federation |website=inside.fifa.com}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Pakistan|Association football}}
* [[Football in Pakistan]]

== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" responsive="1"></references>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/@pakistanfootballfederation Pakistan Football Federation] on [[YouTube]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130227080307/http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-associations/south-central/pakistan-football-fed.html Pakistan] at AFC site
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070610173802/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=pak/index.html Pakistan] at FIFA site
*[https://www.dawn.com/news/593095/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-i ''Dawn'', A history of football in Pakistan — part I]
*[https://www.dawn.com/news/593096/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-part-ii ''Dawn'', A history of football in Pakistan — part II]

{{Sports governing bodies in Pakistan |state=collapsed}}
{{Pakistan topics}}
{{Football in Pakistan}}
{{Pakistan national football team}}
{{International football}}
{{AFC associations}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pakistan Football Federation}}
[[Category:Pakistan Football Federation]]
[[Category:Sports governing bodies in Pakistan]]
[[Category:1947 establishments in Pakistan]]
[[Category:National members of the Asian Football Confederation|Pakistan]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1947]]
[[Category:Football governing bodies in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Association football governing bodies in Asia]]