Players unpaid, billions spent: FIFA likely to scrutinise PFF NC’s finances [The News]

by Abdul Mohi Shah

ISLAMABAD: Yet another scandal is threatening to rock Pakistan football as FIFA prepares to launch a full-fledged audit into a staggering Rs 2,000 million reportedly spent by the Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) Normalization Committee (NC) from 2020 to 2025.

At a time when national players and officials continue to complain of unpaid salaries, lack of facilities, and minimal support, questions are swirling around the massive outflow of funds during the NC’s five-year tenure.

According to insiders, much of the amount was funneled through a third-party entity that acted as an intermediary between FIFA and the NC, raising suspicions of hefty commissions and financial mismanagement. The identity of this third party, and the exact nature of its role, remain cloaked in mystery.

Concerns over this unprecedented spending spree dominated the recently held PFF Executive Committee meeting. In a rare show of unity, more than two-thirds of the members demanded an independent inquiry into FIFA’s funding of Pakistan football over the past eight years, with special focus on the billions spent by the NC.

However, PFF leadership resisted the calls, insisting that since the money originated from FIFA, the world body alone was authorized to scrutinize the accounts.

Members were cautioned against discussing the issue further in official meetings and advised to lodge written complaints if they had objections. In defiance, nine of the 13 Executive Committee members submitted a detailed complaint, which has now been officially forwarded to FIFA.

The complaint, a copy of which is available with The News, raises serious questions about transparency, accountability, and governance in Pakistan football.

“According to the laid-down system and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) rules, the federal government has the authority to conduct audits of any federation—even if the money comes from abroad. Since the funds are transferred under the PFF banner, the government can and should investigate how Rs 2,000 million was spent when players and officials were left empty-handed,” one Executive Committee member told The News.

The member added that the government has previously conducted audits of the PFF and other federations, and therefore has every right to examine NC’s financial dealings. He stressed that the critical question remains: if players and staff were not compensated, then where exactly was this massive amount spent?

The complaint further highlighted the puzzling decision to operate via an external company, despite PFF having its own official account. Calls are now growing to identify who controlled this intermediary and how much of FIFA’s funding may have been siphoned off.

When approached for comment, PFF President Mohsen Gilani distanced himself from the matter, admitting he had no access to the accounts. “I sincerely believe that FIFA will look into this. I personally have no access to PFF’s financial records,” Gilani said.

With mounting pressure from both within the PFF and the wider sports community, FIFA is expected to carry out its own audit, possibly engaging government auditors to trace the flow of funds. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Sports Board retains the authority to launch a parallel inquiry, adding to the heat on NC’s already controversial tenure.

Published in The News, 20 September 2025