FIFA President Gianni Infantino has revealed that he would be visiting Pakistan, a major move in restoring football in the football-crazed country, which has been in a state of administrative insecurity over the years. It was announced on the side of the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which Infantino announced that he had told Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about the visit.
The intended visit highlights FIFA in a new relationship with Pakistan after recent reforms of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). Infantino has recognized the developments that have taken place in the new leadership of the federation and has termed them as a new beginning of Pakistani football.
I will be in Pakistan very soon. I made a promise to the prime minister, Infantino said, and was confident in the way the federation was heading. He praised the new president of PFF as stabilizing the organization following many years of political instability in governance.
Infantino also talked of the potential of football in Pakistan in a positive manner and highlighted that FIFA aims at making the country emerge as one of the stronger footballing nations in Asia. He affirmed again that Pakistan possesses talent and population base to succeed provided that appropriate structures are in place.
Pakistan football has suffered a series of setbacks throughout the years because of internal conflicts, case issues and governmental paralysis. The problems led to international freezing and lack of involvement in world competitions, which had a devastating effect on player development and grassroots expansion.
The new leadership structure has been able to restore confidence between the PFF and FIFA as well as the rest of the international stakeholders. The visit by Infantino will be aimed at enhancing governance, initiating youth and grassroots projects, and enhancing the football infrastructure throughout the country.
The visit, according to the view of officials and analysts, may mark a turning point in the history of Pakistani football because it opens the way to more funding, cooperation with other countries, and subsequent growth at domestic and international levels.
