Football’s omission is pathetic: PFF

Federation laments sport’s continued absence from National Games.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has reacted angrily to the Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) decision to withhold football’s omission from the 31st National Games, labelling it a breach of privilege while urging them to reconsider the decision.

While hockey and wushu were drafted back into the Games, football, following a poor performance in the Asian Games, remained on the sidelines.

“Such attitude with regards to the world’s most popular sport is pathetic,” PFF President Faisal Saleh Hayat told a press conference. “The decision has not only overlooked the fundamental rights of the footballers but also breached the privilege of a common man and we urge the authority to review their decision. Otherwise, we reserve the rights to go to court.”

Hayat added that the POA’s decision was based on a ‘political agenda’ against him and the federation.

“There are over 60,000 registered football players in Pakistan and the number of unregistered players is more than one million. The decision, therefore, is absolutely incorrect and very damaging for the development of football in Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2010.