LAHORE May 4: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has suspended FIFA referee Naveed Bashir Butt for levelling what it called false allegations against the federation. A PFF spokesman said on Wednesday the suspension was for an indefinite period. Naveed had alleged that PFF had not paid match fee to the four referees who conducted the 9th SAF Games matches last year in Islamabad.

“All the referees had been paid money by PFF and Naveed, after having received the amount, had given baseless statement in the media,” the spokesman claimed.

The name of Naveed and another referee Abdul Bari had not been conveyed to FIFA after both failed to pass the last test, the spokesman added.

“The referee’s act is misconduct and liable to strict disciplinary action. In order to avoid reoccurrence of such incident, PFF deserves right to suspend anyone for giving baseless statements,” PFF secretary Arshad Lodhi was quoted as saying by the spokesman.