“Extraordinary Congress” meeting convened to discuss amendments to PFF statutes

KARACHI: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalization Committee has convened an emergency congress on November 19 in Lahore to discuss amendments to the PFF constitution, sources in the Geo News on Thursday.

The conference, according to sources, will focus on the necessary amendments to bring the PFF election procedures in line with FIFA guidelines, according to a letter sent by the federation to various departments.

A PFF official confirmed Geo News that while the invitations to the divisions have already been sent out, the provinces will be notified once the election process is complete and the results are officially announced, which is expected early next week.

“The agenda of this meeting is focused on the review of specific statutes, particularly Article 38 and Article 90, which govern the electoral process and eligibility criteria for candidates for the Presidency of the PFF. The proposed amendments, mandated by FIFA, are aimed at making the election process more inclusive and democratic by widening the pool of eligibility for candidates and improving the timing of elections,” a source said.

Sources say the changes to Article 38 will modify the eligibility conditions for presidential candidates. According to the current rule (Article 38(4)), a candidate must have been a member of the PFF Congress, the PFF Executive Committee or an official position in the PFF, AFC or FIFA for at least two of the previous five years.

“This requirement has narrowed the pool of eligible candidates. The proposed amendment will reduce these restrictions, allowing a wider range of qualified individuals to run for the presidency,” the source said.

Amendments to Article 90 will concern the planning and procedural framework for the PFF elections. Under the existing statute, the full electoral process at district, provincial and federal levels must be determined by January 31 of the election year, with elections completed by July 31. In addition, the new body will take office on September 1.

The proposed changes are intended to provide flexibility in this timeline, ensuring a smoother transition and sufficient preparation time for applicants and employees.

The sources added that the PFF Extraordinary Congress was convened following a directive from the FIFA Council in March 2024, which tasked the PFF Normalization Committee to review specific constitutional provisions.

“FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation have decided that a partial revision of the PFF Constitution is necessary to ensure a fair and democratic electoral process. International football governing bodies have noted that the existing provisions limit eligible candidates and could prevent the development of truly representative leadership,” he noted while highlighting FIFA’s directive.

A five-member delegation from FIFA and the AFC is also likely to visit Pakistan to oversee the work of the Congress and ensure compliance with international football governance standards.

The Conference will officially start as soon as there is a quorum of Executive Committee Members, according to the PFF’s official announcement.