FIFA suspends Pakistan Football Federation for third time since 2017

"The PFF has been suspended with immediate effect due to its failure to adopt a revision of the PFF Constitution that would ensure truly fair and democratic elections and thereby fulfil its obligations as mandated by FIFA as part of the ongoing normalisation process of PFF," FIFA said in a statement.

"The suspension will only be lifted subject to the PFF Congress approving the version of the PFF Constitution presented by FIFA and the AFC," the statement said.

Speaking at a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-provincial Coordination earlier in the day, Haroon Malik — the chairman of the PFF Normalisation Committee appointed by FIFA — had stated Pakistan was risking suspension, Dawn News reported.

The suspension is now adding pressure on PFF Congress to accept FIFA's demands.

The Congress had rejected most of the amendments which centred around the candidacy of the president.

FIFA had given PFF a deadline of February 15 to conduct the polls.

However, the election procedure is now delayed after the rejection of the amendments.

Malik wrote to members of the Congress, aiming to set up meetings to resolve the issue, reported Dawn News.

This is the third time the Pakistani football body has been suspended since 2017.