ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Football Federation’s Normalization Committee (NC) has hinted that there is a strong possibility that the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Jordan is likely to take place in Islamabad.
The normalization committee’s social media post sparked a significant uproar among Pakistani football enthusiasts, saying that Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad could not host the match against Jordan in Ramadan due to insufficient floodlights, which is a recent issue.
However, according to the latest update, the NC spokesperson stated, “The match can still be played in Islamabad.” The NC spokesperson further clarified that FIFA had not set a deadline for January 21st.
They mentioned, “According to the rules, we need to inform them well about the possible venue two months before the match,”.
A tweet from the NC suggested that they are facing difficulties with the current setup and the last date for venue submission was January 21, indicating that they might not meet FIFA lighting standards for the match against Jordan in March.
Dear Football Community of Pakistan,
We would like to provide an important update regarding our upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Round 2 match against Jordan. pic.twitter.com/kWgAuXHWFb
— Pakistan Football Federation (@TheRealPFF) January 22, 2024
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director-General has expressed skepticism about these claims, stating, “We have sent assurances to the Pakistan Football Federation’s Normalization Committee, and we believe that we will complete the necessary work for the game on time,”.
— shoaib khoso (@shoaybkhoso) January 22, 2024
Earlier, DG PSB Shoaib Khoso had posted a notification on Twitter, confirming that lights would be installed for the match in March. The long-standing issues between the government and the NC have been a source of ongoing problems, with continuous tensions between both parties since FIFA’s appointment of the NC in 2021. The FIFA World Cup Qualifier Round 2 match between Pakistan and Jordan is scheduled for March 21st.
