Word football governing body Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has suspended the national soccer federations of Pakistan and Chad on Wednesday amid disputes about how they should be run.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) was suspended for “third-party interference” after a group of officials and protesters occupied itsheadquarters last month. The protesters oppose a “normalization committee” appointed by FIFA to run the sport in Pakistan after years of infighting by groups of officials. “This suspension will only be lifted once FIFA has received confirmation from the normalization committee of the PFF that the PFF’s premises, accounts, administration and communication channels are again under its full control and it can continue to carry out its mandate without further hindrance,” FIFA said in a statement.
Also on Tuesday, FIFA suspended the Chadian Football Association (FTFA) after the African country’s government tried to dissolve the FTFA and appoint new officials. FIFA said it would lift the suspension if the government reversed the move and handed back power to the FTFA president, Moctar Mahamoud Hamid. Chad was disqualified from African Cup of Nations qualifying last month when the Confederation of African Football ordered it to forfeit two games as a result of the dispute.
