Officials from FIFA and AFC stressed that the Pakistan Football Federation needs to revise its statutes and ensure they align with the global governing bodies during the Governance and Statues Revision Workshop on Sunday.
The first day of the workshop saw FIFA’s Head of Member Associations Governance Rolf Tanner and AFC’s Senior Manager of South Asia Unit MA & RA Department MA Division Sonam Jigmi address members of the PFF Congress where they stated that third-party interference in the working of the federation will not be tolerated.
The PFF Constitution was last revised in 2014, while some clauses were amended last year before the Elective Congress took place under the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee.
Members of the PFF Congress were briefed on the key principles of good governance with Mr. Tanner and Mr Jigmi emphasising on the separation of powers between legislative, executive and judiciary bodies. “The distinction of powers ensures a check and balance that reduces risk of corruption,” stated Tanner.
Avoidance of conflict of interest, gender equality as well as competence were the topics that came under discussion. Mr. Tanner called for an urgent need of revision of the 2014 PFF Constitution being a requirement set by FIFA and AFC to ensure long-term stability in the PFF.
“FIFA and AFC had directed a revision of the PFF Constitution one year after the elections and this workshop is a step towards ensuring that it happens very soon,” said Mr. Tanner.
PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani said the governance reforms were imperative. “The revision of the statutes has been pending for a decade whilst other federations have moved light-years ahead so we need to ensure it happens now.”
Mr Tanner added that more stability at the PFF level will lead to better results on the pitch. “You are not going to progress at a sporting level with an archaic federation so it is important because at the end of the day our motivation should be that football should be developed and played.”
Mr Jigmi said that the process of revision will be a transparent one and based on consultation. “A federation that does not comply with FIFA and AFC obligations loses its rights as a member association,” he said.