Pakistan football crisis: Haroon Malik says willing to talk to Ashfaq Group
Pakistan football crisis: Haroon Malik says willing to talk to Ashfaq Group
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee Chairman Haroon Malik has refused to compromise on principles but is willing to hold talks with the Ashfaq Group that is currently in control of the federation's headquarter in Lahore.
“I am open to a respectful dialogue as I want to resolve this issue in order to protect Pakistan from dire consequences," Malik told The News. “But I will make it clear that I will not compromise on principles. First they should respectfully vacate the FIFA Football House and I will sit with them the way I used to meet them."
He made it clear that he would not conduct the PFF elections on the basis of the 2015 list. “Yes, the elections will not be held on the basis of the 2015 list as there are several issues in that list,” Malik said.
The other day Ashfaq Group took the PFF headquarters control from the FIFA-installed NC, a development which put Pakistan on the brink of international suspension.
READ: PFF NC Chairman Haroon warns 'illegal occupants' of FIFA's wrath
Malik said he had had discussions with FIFA at two different levels. “Today I had a discussion with FIFA at two different levels. FIFA had asked for filing the incident report and the names of the people involved in the incident. We have forwarded every detail to FIFA, including pictures of the people involved in the whole episode,” he said.
“Now it will be seen in two or three days what action FIFA will take and what I recommend,” Malik said. “I have told FIFA to give me some time as I want to resolve the matter locally. Let’s see what happens,” he said.
“You know the incident made international headlines and international media has started highlighting it which is damaging the image of Pakistan. Pakistan will be completely isolated if FIFA imposes sanctions and I fear for the players, their families and those whose bread and butter is attached with football,” Malik said.
He alleged that his secretariat staff is also being threatened. Malik said he was going to unveil elections roadmap by the first week of April and was on his way to initiate the things when this happened.
Canada-based Malik replaced Humza Khan as PFF NC chairman early this year. Following a few years of turmoil during which Pakistan also faced FIFA sanctions in 2017 which were lifted in March 2018, FIFA in September 2019 installed Normalisation Committee, giving it nine months to hold the PFF elections. However, NC under Humza Khan failed to meet the deadline. FIFA then extended it until the end of 2020 but again the committee failed.
FIFA then further gave six months extension until June 30, 2021. Humza in the meantime last year resigned and was replaced by Malik. The new development has also put Pakistan’s participation in this year’s SAFF Cup in Dhaka in danger.
Sources told ‘The News’ that some people have started taking the initiative to bring both Malik and Ashfaq Group on the negotiating table to resolve the issue.
READ: Pakistan football likely to face FIFA suspension following office attack
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