Pakistan is set to send a football team to Russia for a friendly match on October 11, 2024, despite earlier setbacks in negotiations between the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and the Russian Football Union. A senior official from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) confirmed that the country has accepted Russia’s invitation to enhance bilateral relations through sports diplomacy.
The invitation was officially extended by Russia’s Minister of Sport via diplomatic channels. However, initial discussions between the PFF and the Russian Football Union were delayed due to concerns raised by the PFF’s Normalisation Committee regarding the limited preparation time for the team.
Sheikh Rehan, the newly elected president of the Islamabad Football Association (IFA), played a key role in reviving the talks. He notified the PFF about the PSB’s interest in accepting Russia’s proposal and sought formal approval for the participation of the team.
It is important to note that while the IFA and its affiliated clubs are recognized by the PFF, any team traveling to Russia for the match will not be considered Pakistan’s official national football team, as the PFF has not yet given formal consent to the IFA’s request.
