Sanjrani wants FIFA informed about football affairs in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: In order to resolve the administrative issues and have an active interaction with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani wants a Pakistani delegation to meet and apprise the sports body of the ground realities of football in the country.

Chairman Senate, who heads the Senate Committee for the promotion and development of football in the country on Wednesday said internal disputes must be resolved for promotion of football in addition to provision of quality infrastructures and organizing regular tournaments to create awareness about this all important sports.

He said not only the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) should collaborate their efforts but the private sector must also be involved to steer the agenda of enhancing the game of football in the country.

“First priority is seeking the cooperation of private sector for developing the sports infrastructure and organizing football tournaments across the country with the financial assistance of corporate sector,” he said.

He also directed PFF to prepare a practical action plan and calendar of events for the proposed tournaments.

He further directed PSB to fully cooperate with federation with provision of sports grounds as well as an office to the PFF in Islamabad.

The meeting was apprized that on the directions of Supreme Court of Pakistan elections of the federation were held and a new body was elected. The PFF President Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah informed the meeting that different issues have been discussed with FIFA, however, the international sports body needs to be apprised of the ground realities of the situation of football in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion Senator Ahmed, Dr. Asad Ashraf and Mirza Muhammad Afridi opined that we must come out of the internal disputes and devise a way forward for the promotion of football involving all the stakeholders and ensuring better working relationship among different organizations.

Chairman Senate also constituted a subcommittee headed by Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi for preparing a comprehensive plan for promotion of football in the country in consultation with all the stakeholders, relevant organizations and also involving private sectors.

The Minister and Secretary for the Ministry of Intern Provincial Coordination would also be invited during the next meeting of the committee along with the private sector representatives of corporate sector companies to deliberation on promotion of football.

Chairman Senate also asked Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif to devise a plan for taking up various issues with the FIFA in consultation with the PFF and other stakeholders.

The meeting was attended by Senators Dr. Asad Ashraf, Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Ahmed Khan, Barrister Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Ishfq Hussain Shah President PFF, Director General Pakistan Sports Board Arif Ibrahim and representatives of different organizations associated with football.