Pakistan misses another football event due to rifts in PFF

KARACHI: The on-going tussle between two fractions of Pakistan Football Federation has forced Pakistan to miss one more international football event, this time the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers.

The draw for the AFC U23 championship qualifiers were held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday to decide the roadmap for the 40 contenders for the main event, which will be held in China next year.

Moments before the draw, Pakistan’s name was withdrawn from the pot-list as the national federation at home was busy in fights to control the helm of affairs at the power corridors of football house.

This is not the first event the team has missed due to the controversy at PFF. Pakistani footballers have not been able to participate in any event since May 2015. Football activities at home are also at a halt.

The tussle between two fractions of PFF has so far forced Pakistan to miss AFC U16 Championship, AFC U19 Championship, SAFF Cup 2015, AFC Solidarity Cup 2016, SAFF Women Championship, South Asian Games, Women Asian Cup qualifiers and now the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers.