FIFA’s fact-finding mission to visit Pakistan in May

Postponement in visit could keep Pakistan from featuring in the first round of Asia’s marathon 2022 FIFA World Cup

LAHORE: FIFA’s fact-finding mission is scheduled to visit Pakistan on May 28. The postponement in the visit, which was due to take place on April 24, could keep Pakistan from featuring in the first round of Asia’s 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

The vice-president of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and president of the Punjab Football Association Sardar Naveed Haider Khan had requested FIFA to analyse the PFF matters, upon which the joint FIFA and AFC mission had to visit Pakistan on April 24.

Apart from analysing the recent elections of the PFF, FIFA and AFC-based mission will meet with the football stakeholders in the country. The joint mission will then submit its report to FIFA.

The secretary general of the PFF Muhammad Siddique Sheikh has expressed contentment over FIFA's move of sending the mission to Pakistan.

However, the visit falls days before the first round of joint World Cup and AFC Asian Cup qualifiers (Asia) which start on June 6.