Football groups fighting for money in PFF account

KARACHI: Ashfaq-led Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) vice-president Naveed Haider has objected to the step of the FIFA-appointed PFF Normalisation Committee members to go to court for freezing the PFF accounts.

In a whatsapp message to FIFA official Laura, who oversees the PFF NC affairs, Naved said that the PFF Normalisation Committee member Shahid Khokhar has filed a lawsuit in the Court of Civil Judge Lahore to block the bank accounts of the PFF.

“He is being legally represented by barrister Haris Azmat, another Member of PFF Normalisation Committee. It is appalling to know that on one side FIFA/AFC does not recognise the PFF elections agreed upon and held with mutual consent by all varying factions in December 2018 as per PFF Constitution and as per the orders of the highest judicial body. , The Supreme Court of Pakistan. The reason given was that as per FIFA/AFC statutes we do not recognise or support any third party intervention,” the message said, which was shared by Naved with 'The News'.

“PFF Normalisation Committee is the direct appointee and representative of FIFA/ AFC in Pakistan. How their members have been allowed by FIFA/AFC to approach the local courts to redress their grievances. By doing so aren’t these two NC members in breach, violation and in conflict with FIFA/AFC Statutes,” Naved wrote. ”I shall be grateful if you could kindly look into this matter and clarify the situation with Pakistani football community,” Naved wrote.

Sharafat Bukhari, another senior member of the Ashfaq-led PFF, said that the amount of Rs120 million which is in PFF account is not the money of FIFA but it is that of the AFC and Korea which had been given to PFF for Jhang Project.

“It was 450,000 US dollars of which 200,000 US dollars had been given to PFF by the President of South Korea Football Federation while 250,000 US dollars had been given by the AFC. The PFF then put it in the bank and the account grew,” Sharafat told 'The News'.

Sharafat said that Ashfaq-led PFF had to pay Rs7.5 million liability in terms of payments during the Premier League when they won the elections in December 2018 after Shahid Khokhar, who was handling financial transactions, withdrew the payment,” Sharafat said.

He said they had filed a case with the FIA, having name of Shahid Khokhar. Sharafat said that when they won the elections former PFF president Faisal Saleh Hayat returned 480,000 US dollars to FIFA.

NC experienced member Shahid Khokhar said that being FIFA appointees they cannot go to courts for constitutional matters but they can go to courts for external matters and for resolving local problems.

“The amount in the account which is around Rs120 million is of FIFA/AFC and we are their custodians,” Shahid said.

He said under the court directives the accounts have been frozen on June 5.

Responding to Sharafat’s statement about withdrawal of the Premier League payment, Shahid said he had conducted fair transactions and anyone can check that.