FIFA Suspends Pakistan & Congo

On Friday, FIFA announced the suspension of Pakistan and Congo from all international competitions. 

Pakistan was suspended due to its failure to adopt a revision of its constitution, which would have ensured fair and democratic elections.

FIFA earlier suspended Pakistan in 2017 and 2021 due to third-party interference in its affairs. 

The last ban on Pakistan was lifted in 2022 after the PFF's Normalisation Committee said that it had regained full control of the federation's finances and premises. 

"The PFF has been suspended with immediate effect due to its failure to adopt a revision of the PFF Constitution that would ensure truly fair and democratic elections and thereby fulfill its obligations as mandated by FIFA as part of the ongoing normalization process of PFF."

"The suspension will only be lifted subject to the PFF Congress approving the version of the PFF Constitution presented by FIFA and the AFC," the statement added.

PFF Normalisation Committee chairman Haroon Malik said on Thursday that the majority of the newly-elected PFF Congress members have not agreed to FIFA's proposals.

Congo was banned due to the interference of third parties in the affairs of the organization.

FIFA explained in a statement: "FECOFOOT has been suspended with immediate effect due to a particularly serious situation of undue interference by third parties in the affairs of the organization, which constitutes a clear violation of FECOFOOT’s obligations in accordance with the FIFA Statutes."