KARACHI: The International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) has officially lifted the suspension imposed on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), allowing the country to re-enter the international football arena. The decision came after the successful implementation of constitutional amendments that aligned with FIFA’s governance requirements.
“The Bureau of the FIFA Council decided on 2 March 2025 to lift the suspension that was imposed on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on 6 February 2025,” FIFA announced in a statement late Sunday.
The global football governing body explained that the suspension was removed following the unanimous approval of the revised PFF Constitution by the PFF Congress. The amendments were validated by both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), meeting the conditions previously set by FIFA in its decision from February 6, 2025.
Shahid Khokhar, a member of the PFF Normalisation Committee, confirmed the positive development to Geo News, stating that the decision marked a new chapter for Pakistan’s football scene. “The suspension has been lifted following the successful outcome of the PFF Extraordinary Congress on February 27,” Khokhar said. “We extend our gratitude to FIFA and AFC for their continued support of Pakistan football and offer our heartfelt congratulations to the Pakistan football community.”
With FIFA’s suspension lifted, all membership rights of the PFF, as outlined in FIFA’s statutes, have been reinstated. This means that Pakistan’s national team and club teams can now participate in international tournaments and events without restrictions.
FIFA initially suspended Pakistan’s football body last month after the PFF Congress members had resisted accepting the proposed constitutional amendments. These changes were deemed crucial to ensuring transparency in the election process and governance reforms within the federation. However, after further negotiations, the amendments were finally ratified in a follow-up session on February 27.
The removal of FIFA’s suspension is particularly significant as it clears the path for Pakistan’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. The PFF had previously withdrawn from the competition due to the ban. Now, with FIFA lifting the suspension, urgent preparations must be made for Pakistan’s upcoming match against Syria, scheduled later this month.