On Thursday, an overwhelming majority of FIFA members decided to enable the international governing body’s Council to overturn Pakistan’s suspension if all requirements are fulfilled.
In the Doha Exhibition and Cultural Centre, the vote took place, there were 195 votes in favor and four votes against.
The Pakistan Football Federation Normalization Committee (NC) was thrown out of office by a group of officials led by Ashfaq Hussain Shah, who was elected president of the PFF. Last year in April Pakistan was suspended by FIFA’s all-powerful Council.
FIFA rejected that election, and in September 2019, it established the National Commission for the PFF to organize new elections.
At the FIFA Congress on Thursday, FIFA referred to Ashfaq and his group of officials as “protestors.” Last year’s Congress confirmed Pakistan’s prohibition. Last month, the PFF NC regained possession of its Lahore headquarters after the government pledged to back it unconditionally in an attempt to remove Pakistan’s ban. Following Thursday’s vote, FIFA will lift the ban as soon as the NC regains control of the accounts.
