LAHORE: The FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has written a letter to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) asking the latter to include football in the 33rd National Games being held in Peshawar from Oct 26.

Humza Khan, chairman of the Normalisation Committee, told Dawn the letter had been written to the POA a couple of days ago, and he was waiting for the reply.

It may be mentioned that the POA and the organising committee of the National Games had already completed the list of the disciplines for the gala, which is being held after seven years.

Humza said as the Normalisation Committee had the mandate to control football affairs in Pakistan, it would make every effort to get football included in the games in order to give the country’s footballers an opportunity to show their talent.

So far, Humza added, the Normalisation Committee had not taken any step towards the clubs’ scrutiny, which is necessary to hold elections from district to national level as per the FIFA programme.

He said the committee had appointed retired Col Mujahidullah Tareen as PFF interim secretary in place of retired Col Ahmad Yar Lodhi of Faisal Saleh Hayat group.

It may be mentioned here that FIFA had appointed the Normalisation Committee with the consent of two opponent groups of the PFF, one headed by Faisal and the other led by Ashfaq Hussain Shah. FIFA picked two members from each group and appointed Humza its chairman to make arrangements for fresh elections — from district to national level — and end the dispute for ever.

Meanwhile, Ashfaq’s group held a meeting here on Thursday and accepted the Normalisation Committee and it would give the charge of FIFA House in Lahore to it.

Ashfaq’s group in this regard also formed a four-member committee featuring Zahir Shah, Sardar Naveed, Amir Dogar and Ashfaq himself.

Ashfaq’s group had taken the control of FIFA House after winning the elections held under the supervision of the Supreme Court early this year. However, FIFA did not accept this body to continue its correspondence with Faisal’s group, which recently sent an U-16 team to Saudi Arabia for a tournament.

However, Faisal’s group has not yet issued its stance about the Normalisation Committee.

After getting the charge of FIFA House, the Normalisation Committee will start functioning.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2019