{"id":7643,"date":"2021-03-28T12:45:09","date_gmt":"2021-03-28T12:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailyrapidnews.com\/eng\/?p=7643"},"modified":"2021-03-28T12:45:09","modified_gmt":"2021-03-28T12:45:09","slug":"dark-day-pakistan-football-hq-attacked-womens-event-scrapped","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyrapidnews.com\/eng\/2021\/03\/28\/dark-day-pakistan-football-hq-attacked-womens-event-scrapped\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Dark day\u2019: Pakistan football HQ attacked, women\u2019s event scrapped"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pakistan football\u2019s headquarters have been attacked, with chairman of the FIFA-appointed Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee (NC) saying he was forced to hand over the organisation\u2019s accounts and cheque books.<\/p>\n

Haroon Malik, the PFF NC chair, said Saturday\u2019s attack was led by former PFF President Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah who was accompanied by other officials.<\/p>\n

\"Dark-day-Pakistan-football-HQ-attacked-women-event-scrapped-rapidnews\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI was working at the office when a mob, organised by Shah, barged into my office and asked me to hand over charge of the PFF and all bank accounts,\u201d Malik told Al Jazeera on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey restrained me and locked the doors, shouting and telling me to hand over the PFF to them. They were furious about not conducting the elections. I told them I will provide a roadmap and we should discuss it in a civilised manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

A PFF spokesperson added that \u201cstaff was physically harassed and held hostage\u201d.<\/p>\n

Shah was named PFF President after a 2018 election held on the instructions of the country\u2019s Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

FIFA, football\u2019s world governing body, and the Asian Football Confederation refused to recognise him as the elected president, ruling the court\u2019s move a \u201cthird-party interference\u201d in running of the national football body.<\/p>\n

In 2019, FIFA installed the NC \u2013 initially chaired by Humza Khan \u2013 to strengthen the football structure in Pakistan, aiming to achieve a functioning administration by conducting transparent elections.<\/p>\n

After Khan\u2019s resignation in December 2020, FIFA named Malik as the body\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n

Tensions have been brewing over the past months between the group led by Shah and the NC over what they see as a delay in holding elections.<\/p>\n

In 2015, Pakistan was banned by FIFA due to third-party interference and there is fear among football circles that Saturday\u2019s events might lead to another suspension.<\/p>\n

Malik said he suspects the officials who took part in the \u201cattack\u201d will be banned and \u201cFIFA will probably declare them as \u2018persona non-grata’\u201d.<\/p>\n

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If only we can complete this tournament r.n & not let all our hardwork, efforts & sacrifices go in vain. Months of training; resigned from 2 jobs right before tournament so I could stay here for a month. And nw this. DISAPPOINTED! @daniutus25<\/a> @PakistanFF<\/a> @JAfridi10<\/a> @FootballPak<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/VCoLl2FXb6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Abiha Haider (@AbihaHaider05) March 27, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n