Pakistan Football Faces Urgent Constitution Reform Push From FIFA and AFC

FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have urged the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to revise its constitution in line with international governance standards, warning that any third-party interference in the federation’s affairs will not be accepted.

The message was conveyed during the opening day of the Governance and Statutes Revision Workshop held on Sunday, where FIFA’s Head of Member Associations Governance, Rolf Tanner, and AFC Development Officer Sonam Jigmi addressed members of the PFF Congress.

The workshop is part of FIFA and AFC’s efforts to support a broader review of the PFF constitution, which was last comprehensively revised in 2014. Although some amendments were introduced before last year’s PFF elections held under the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee, both governing bodies believe a wider constitutional update is now necessary.

Speaking at the workshop, Tanner said good governance was essential for the long-term stability of Pakistan football. He stressed the need for a clear separation of powers between the federation’s legislative, executive and judicial bodies, saying such a structure creates checks and balances and reduces the risk of corruption.

The discussions also focused on key governance areas, including conflict of interest, gender equality and the need for competent football administration.

Tanner said the constitutional revision had been directed by FIFA and AFC one year after the PFF elections and described the workshop as an important step toward completing the process soon. He also linked better governance with improved football development, saying the sport cannot progress under an outdated federation structure.

PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani welcomed the reform process and admitted that the revision of the statutes had been pending for far too long.

“The revision of the statutes has been pending for a decade whilst other federations have moved light-years ahead, so we need to ensure it happens now,” Gilani said.

AFC Development Officer Sonam Jigmi assured the participants that the review process would be transparent and consultative. He also reminded the PFF Congress that member associations must comply with FIFA and AFC regulations to retain their rights.

“A federation that does not comply with FIFA and AFC obligations loses its rights as a member association,” Jigmi said.

The workshop is expected to continue discussions on governance reforms and the framework for updating the PFF constitution according to FIFA and AFC requirements.