FIFA to discuss Pakistan issues in September [The News]

KARACHI: FIFA said on Thursday that Pakistan’s football matters would be discussed in a meeting in September.

“The matter is due to be discussed during the next Associations Committee meeting on September 21, 2015,” a FIFA spokesperson told ‘The News’ on Thursday.

A fact-finding mission of FIFA visited Pakistan earlier this month. The delegation held sessions with a team led by Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) chief Faisal Saleh Hayat and the rival group led by PFF senior-vice president Zahir Shah.

The delegation which stayed in Lahore for two days was headed by FIFA Associations Committee and Cyprus FA President Costas Koutsokoumnis.

National Associations of FIFA chief Primo Corvaro and AFC Director Member Associations Si Song Mun accompanied him. FIFA had to send them following requests from Zahir Shah who was also a candidate for the PFF’s presidency against Faisal.

FIFA’s mission took input from both the groups over various issues which included the Punjab Football Association’s (PFA) elections, extraordinary congress meeting convened by Faisal’s rival group, occupation of PFF secretariat by it, PFF elections and the litigation about these matters.

The PFF held its elections on June 30 near Changla Gali despite a stay order by Lahore High Court. The rival group filed a petition of contempt of court against Faisal and secretary Col Ahmed Yar Lodhi. The LHC has issued notices to both of them.