Lahore (Sports Desk) In a joint press conference of FIFA and the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), detailed discussions were held on the administrative structure, reforms, and future roadmap of football in Pakistan.
FIFA Head of Member Associations Governance Rolf Tanner said that strengthening and making the governance system effective is essential for the improvement of football in Pakistan. He stated that during a two-day consultation, meetings were held with various stakeholders, after which it was concluded that immediate reforms in the PFF are necessary.
He said he hopes Pakistan will soon make the required amendments to its constitution so that it aligns with modern international standards. He added that interference from any third party in PFF affairs will not be acceptable, while financial matters are being reviewed by FIFA’s relevant committee.
According to the FIFA representative, football in Pakistan is moving in the right direction, but all stakeholders must play a positive role for its further development. He said constitutional reforms are needed to empower stakeholders and improve the standard of the sport.
On this occasion, PFF President Mohsin Gilani said that no major changes have been made to the federation’s constitution since 2013, therefore it is necessary to implement FIFA’s guidelines. He said that without alignment with global football standards, the sport in Pakistan risks falling further behind.
He added that FIFA is pushing for reforms to improve football in Pakistan, while the audit of the Normalization Committee will also be conducted by FIFA. He noted that Pakistani teams are participating in international competitions and efforts are ongoing to promote domestic football.
Mohsin Gilani announced that a Pakistan Football League will be launched soon. He said that despite limited funding, the federation is continuously working for the development of football in the country.
He further stated that the proposed constitutional amendments do not increase his powers, and he wishes for Pakistan football to achieve better results at the global level.