PSB questions transparency in PFF NC’s affairs

FAISALABAD: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee (PFF-NC), citing numerous concerns about how the committee, under Chairman Haroon Malik, has been managing football-related affairs.

In a detailed letter sent to Malik, the PSB highlighted what it described as deviations from the NC’s original mandate set by FIFA, questioning transparency, inclusivity, and governance of football in Pakistan, particularly regarding the electoral processes.

The Normalisation Committee was appointed by FIFA in 2019 to oversee key responsibilities, including running PFF’s daily operations, ensuring the registration and scrutiny of football clubs, and organising elections at district and provincial levels, leading up to the election of a new PFF executive committee. However, the PSB claims that the committee has veered off course, raising questions about the NC’s compliance with its stated duties.

The PSB stated that it has received multiple complaints from stakeholders within the football community, including clubs and athletes, about how certain processes are being managed.

“The PSB has received several complaints from stakeholders across the football community, including clubs and athletes, raising concerns about the manner in which certain processes, particularly elections, are being conducted,” the PSB’s letter highlights.

One of the core issues raised by the PSB pertains to the election process for district football associations.

The PSB pointed out that according to the PFF Constitution, a club must have participated in at least 90% of matches in the District League Championship and the District Football Championship to be eligible to vote in the Annual General Body Meeting.

The letter questioned whether the necessary championships had even been organised during the NC’s tenure, stating, “We request clarification on whether District League Championships and District Football Championships were organised during the NC’s tenure. If these championships were not held, please explain how the participation percentages of the clubs were determined, as required under Article 81 (4) (c) of the PFF Constitution.”

Another major concern raised by the PSB relates to the conduct of elections for the District Football Associations.

PSB highlighted that according to the NC’s letter dated July 22, 2024, the elections were conducted based on Article 90 of the PFF Constitution and the District Election Rules adopted by the NC in December 2023. However, the PSB noted a serious inconsistency in the method of voting, stating that WhatsApp was used to conduct the elections, a process the PSB described as a clear violation of the official voting procedures.

“The ‘District Elections Process Overview’ submitted by you reveals that WhatsApp was used for conducting the elections, which contradicts the official voting procedures outlined in the District Election Rules,” the PSB wrote.