‘Chaman to remain among PPFL venues’

PFF dismisses Karachi-based clubs’ complaint.

KARACHI: The country’s football federation will continue holding the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) matches in Chaman next season despite concerns expressed by Karachi-based clubs including KPT, KESC, HBL, NBP and PIA.

The clubs appealed to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to shift the matches from Chaman to Quetta, citing crowd pressure and the perceived bias of referees as the reasons behind the proposal.

However, PFF director operations Pervez Mir said matches are more avidly attended in Chaman and Noushki as compared to any other city and it makes sense to keep staging the matches at the venue.

“It’s about the promotion of football and talent so we will continue holding matches there and the teams will have to feature in them,” Mir told The Express Tribune. “It will be unfair to Afghan FC and Muslim FC. We can’t take away their home matches. As far as the refereeing is concerned, we have sent qualified officials and match commissioners. Teams should work hard to improve instead of complaining.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2012.