Pakistan Football Federation
Encyclopedia
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is the governing body of football in Pakistan
. The PFF’s headquarters is at FIFA Football House in Lahore
, Punjab
near the Punjab Stadium
.
and FIFA
. All of Pakistan's football clubs must be members of the PFF. The PFF is responsible for the appointment of the management of the Pakistan men's
and women's
national teams and the organization of the Pakistan Premier League
(the top division), and other lower divisions. The game is controlled at the local level, by 8 provincial football federations affiliated to The PFF but with responsibilities for organising and running football activities in their area.
West Pakistan Football Federation est 1950-1971
, the Pakistan Football Federation was created. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's first leader, became the Patron-in-Chief, and in 1948, the PFF became affiliated with FIFA
. It is also one of the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation
when it was established in 1954.
It organised the first organized the First National Championship in 1948 at Karachi.
Previously, corrupt and inefficient management, poor support from the authorities to the players and to the game itself, poor media coverage and the status of Cricket
as the most popular game in the country were some of the factors as to why football remained underdeveloped since independence. Also due to politics within the organisation, there was a time when FIFA had suspended Pakistan from all international football due to rival PFF factions setting up their own teams to take part in international and national competitions. Such things hindered any chance of football's progress over the last 2 decades.
However, in August 2003, the PFF was under new management, as Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat took over, and he has turned around the fortunes of Pakistani football. With the Assistance of FIFA
, the PFF set up a national football league in 2004, which is now called the Pakistan Premier League
. In 2005 a National Championship was set up for women’s football. In 2007, the inter-city Geo Super Football League
was established, making it the first time that Pakistani club football was telecast live on national television via GEO Super
. It also became Pakistan's first professional football tournament.
At both club and international football, Pakistan have seen results improve. Pakistan rise has attracted many Pakistani players throughout the world such as England based player Zesh Rehman. However more effort and sincerity by the officials is required to allow further progress of the sport in Pakistan. Current bureaucratic inefficiencies and lacklustre politics remain within the PFF machinery that have always hindered the true growth of the game in Pakistan at a faster rate.
Pakistan’s core national league has three divisions. The National Football Championship (A-Division) is named as the Pakistan Premier League
(PPL) while National Championship (B-Division) is known as the Pakistan Football Federation League (PFF league) and the National Club Championship (C-Division) is the lowest division. Below this are regional leagues. There is also a national knock-out competition called the National Football Challenge Cup
although it appears to be used sparingly nowadays.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The PFF’s headquarters is at FIFA Football House in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
near the Punjab Stadium
Punjab Stadium
Punjab Stadium is a football stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. It is used for other sporting events. The stadium was built in 2003 and had been built at a cost of Rs. 110 million. The stadium has a capacity of 10,000.The architect of the project is Khalil ur Rehman & Associates. The Pakistan Football...
.
Overview
The PFF governs all football clubs in Pakistan. It is a member of AFCAsian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
and FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
. All of Pakistan's football clubs must be members of the PFF. The PFF is responsible for the appointment of the management of the Pakistan men's
Pakistan national football team
The Pakistan national football team is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation and is a member of the Asian Football Confederation . The team has not yet qualified for either the FIFA World Cup or Asian Cup championships. Twice they have finished third in the South Asian Football Federation...
and women's
Pakistan women's national football team
The Pakistan women's national football team is the female representative football team for Pakistan.-World Cup record:-AFC Women's Asian Cup record:-References:...
national teams and the organization of the Pakistan Premier League
Pakistan Premier League
The Pakistan Premier League is the first division of Pakistani football. It was established in 2004, in place of the National Championship by the Pakistan Football Federation.-Origins:...
(the top division), and other lower divisions. The game is controlled at the local level, by 8 provincial football federations affiliated to The PFF but with responsibilities for organising and running football activities in their area.
History
On December 5, 1947, after the independence from Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, the Pakistan Football Federation was created. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's first leader, became the Patron-in-Chief, and in 1948, the PFF became affiliated with FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
. It is also one of the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
when it was established in 1954.
It organised the first organized the First National Championship in 1948 at Karachi.
Previously, corrupt and inefficient management, poor support from the authorities to the players and to the game itself, poor media coverage and the status of Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
as the most popular game in the country were some of the factors as to why football remained underdeveloped since independence. Also due to politics within the organisation, there was a time when FIFA had suspended Pakistan from all international football due to rival PFF factions setting up their own teams to take part in international and national competitions. Such things hindered any chance of football's progress over the last 2 decades.
However, in August 2003, the PFF was under new management, as Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat took over, and he has turned around the fortunes of Pakistani football. With the Assistance of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
, the PFF set up a national football league in 2004, which is now called the Pakistan Premier League
Pakistan Premier League
The Pakistan Premier League is the first division of Pakistani football. It was established in 2004, in place of the National Championship by the Pakistan Football Federation.-Origins:...
. In 2005 a National Championship was set up for women’s football. In 2007, the inter-city Geo Super Football League
Geo Super Football League
The Geo Super Football League or SFL is the first proper professional inter-city football league of Pakistan, with the support of the PFF. It was established in 2007 and is the first time that Pakistani club football matches are telecast live on television via GEO Super...
was established, making it the first time that Pakistani club football was telecast live on national television via GEO Super
GEO Super
Geo Super is the first 24-hour Pakistani channel dedicated to the world of sports. It belongs to Independent Media Corporation, owner of the Jang Group of Newspapers.-Launch:...
. It also became Pakistan's first professional football tournament.
At both club and international football, Pakistan have seen results improve. Pakistan rise has attracted many Pakistani players throughout the world such as England based player Zesh Rehman. However more effort and sincerity by the officials is required to allow further progress of the sport in Pakistan. Current bureaucratic inefficiencies and lacklustre politics remain within the PFF machinery that have always hindered the true growth of the game in Pakistan at a faster rate.
Pakistan’s core national league has three divisions. The National Football Championship (A-Division) is named as the Pakistan Premier League
Pakistan Premier League
The Pakistan Premier League is the first division of Pakistani football. It was established in 2004, in place of the National Championship by the Pakistan Football Federation.-Origins:...
(PPL) while National Championship (B-Division) is known as the Pakistan Football Federation League (PFF league) and the National Club Championship (C-Division) is the lowest division. Below this are regional leagues. There is also a national knock-out competition called the National Football Challenge Cup
Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup
The Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup is the national "knockout" cup competition in Pakistani football, run by the Pakistan Football Federation. It was created in 2005 in place of the PFF President's Cup...
although it appears to be used sparingly nowadays.
Competitions
The PFF also runs several competitions:- Pakistan Premier LeaguePakistan Premier LeagueThe Pakistan Premier League is the first division of Pakistani football. It was established in 2004, in place of the National Championship by the Pakistan Football Federation.-Origins:...
- Pakistan Football Federation League
- Pakistan National Football Challenge CupPakistan National Football Challenge CupThe Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup is the national "knockout" cup competition in Pakistani football, run by the Pakistan Football Federation. It was created in 2005 in place of the PFF President's Cup...
- Geo Super Football LeagueGeo Super Football LeagueThe Geo Super Football League or SFL is the first proper professional inter-city football league of Pakistan, with the support of the PFF. It was established in 2007 and is the first time that Pakistani club football matches are telecast live on television via GEO Super...
- KASB Premier LeagueKASB Premier LeagueThe Karachi Premier League was created by and is owned by Karachi United Football Club. The event was started in the year 2003 as an all Karachi Clubs league. In fact it was a pre-cursor to the National League of Pakistan i.e...
See also
- Football in PakistanFootball in PakistanAssociation football is a national sport in Pakistan, alongside other popular sports such as cricket and field hockey, and is organised and regulated by the Pakistan Football Federation.-League system:...
- Pakistan Premier LeaguePakistan Premier LeagueThe Pakistan Premier League is the first division of Pakistani football. It was established in 2004, in place of the National Championship by the Pakistan Football Federation.-Origins:...
- Pakistan national football teamPakistan national football teamThe Pakistan national football team is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation and is a member of the Asian Football Confederation . The team has not yet qualified for either the FIFA World Cup or Asian Cup championships. Twice they have finished third in the South Asian Football Federation...
- List of football clubs in Pakistan
- Club Football League
- KASB Premier LeagueKASB Premier LeagueThe Karachi Premier League was created by and is owned by Karachi United Football Club. The event was started in the year 2003 as an all Karachi Clubs league. In fact it was a pre-cursor to the National League of Pakistan i.e...
External links
- www.pff.com.pk - Official website
- Pakistan at AFC site
- at FIFA online
- www.vision.com.pk - Official sponser and kit supplier