The International Football Association (FIFA) has lifted the ban imposed on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) after it approved the constitutional changes suggested by the governing body.
“FIFA has lifted the suspension on the Pakistan Football Federation, restoring its full membership rights. The suspension has been lifted after the successful outcome of the PFF Extraordinary Congress on February 27,” the PFF said in a statement.
“We thank FIFA and AFC for their continued support of Pakistan football and extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Pakistan football community.”
FIFA had previously banned Pakistan twice for third-party interference, in 2017 and 2021. In 2019, the body installed a Normalisation Committee to run Pakistan football and organise PFF elections.
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On February 7, 2025, FIFA banned Pakistan for the third time for not adopting a constitution that ensured fair elections.
“The PFF has been suspended with immediate effect due to its failure to adopt a revision of the PFF Constitution that would ensure truly fair and democratic elections and thereby fulfil its obligations as mandated by FIFA as part of the ongoing normalisation process of PFF,” FIFA said in a statement.
“The suspension will only be lifted subject to the PFF Congress approving the version of the PFF Constitution presented by FIFA and the AFC.”
With changes in the constitution, duly approved by FIFA, the PFF is now open to competing in international tournaments.
Pakistan, which finished as the runner-up at the Merdeka Cup in 1962 and the SAFF Championship in 1997, finished at the bottom of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with its last international match being a 0-3 drubbing to Tajikistan.
Ranked 198th in the world, it will next be in action in the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers wherein it is drawn with Syria, Myanmar and Afghanistan and will open its campaign against Syria on March 25.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com