FIFA recognises Hayat as PFF president

Official’s election had been declared null and void by the LHC

KARACHI: With FIFA offering their complete support to Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat as the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president, his group now pins their hopes on the Lahore High Court (LHC)  for a favourable decision.

FIFA have fully recognised the June 30 elections in their correspondence with Hayat’s rival Arshad Lodhi, stating that the international body will only communicate with the Hayat group. It also emphasised that the occupation of the PFF headquarters — by LHC-ordered administrator Asad Munir — is illegal according to FIFA’s rules.

“FIFA has recognised our position [as the rightful group]. I don’t see any legal issues with it anymore,” PFF secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi told The Express Tribune. “It’s time that footballing activities resumed in the country.”

FIFA Committee to put an end to PFF saga

A FIFA executive committee had taken a decision in Hayat’s favour on September 25, deeming his June 30 elections in Changla Gali valid and stating that he gets to stay in the office for two more years while making changes in the PFF statutes as per FIFA’s requirements.

However, in an earlier letter, the world governing body had not mentioned the elections at all, but this time around have upheld the elections.

Hayat will now have to hold re-elections after making the required changes in two years’ time while reporting to FIFA official Costakis Koutsokoumnis.

Hayat’s election that has been upheld by FIFA was declared null and void by the LHC, who also issued a contempt of court notice to Hayat for holding the elections in violation of a stay-order on the elections by the court. The LHC’s decision has now been challenged by Hayat in the SC.

Football should not suffer: Asad Munir

Meanwhile, court-anointed administrator Asad Munir said he will continue performing his duties as per the LHC’s decision. “I don’t know how this will pan out because it is a strange situation,” said Munir. “We can’t say anything for sure before a decision by the court.”

The next hearing is on November 11.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2015.

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