'Embarrassing for country led by Imran Khan': Pakistan football captain on FIFA ban

Following ban imposed on Pakistan by FIFA, country's women's football team captain Hajra Khan has sought Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's help to revoke ban. Taking to Instagram, Hajra said that it was embarrassing for a country led by a sportsman - Imran Khan, former Pakistan World Cup-winning captain - to be banned by global body of 'world's most-followed sport'. 27-year-old skipper, who has played 16 games for Pakistan, said that team has worked hard 'with blood and sweat' as she made an emotional appeal to Pakistan PM to intervene. 

“re is still hope and we do expect a response from you two. We do expect country to back us when we need m most right w. It is a request, it might t be humble anymore, but it is a request. (And) it is a need. It all relies on you,” Pakistani skipper said in a video mess to Imran Khan. 

“We have worked hard, with blood and sweat, to represent this country. We have taken it to podium, we have won championships in past. Where do we go next? Which sport do we switch to? Who do we rely on? We do expect a response from you. We do expect country to back us when we need it most,” Hajra Khan added. 

FIFA suspends Pakistan 

Bureau of FIFA Council on Wednesday anunced that it has suspended Pakistan and Chad football associations over concerns linked to illegitimate outside interference. FIFA has said that above-mentioned suspension will come into force with immediate effect and will only be lifted once football’s governing body is convinced that respective associations of Pakistan and Chad have regained full control for ir manment and premises.

FIFA said that Chad football association (FTFA) has been suspended because of government interference, while suspension of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) was prompted by recent “hostile takeover” of latter’s headquarters. 

Earlier, global football body also issued a warning to Pakistan Football Federation after hostile takeover by Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah's faction. tably, Shah had won PFF elections in 2018 which was ordered by Pakistan Supreme Court. However, Asian Football Confederation (AFC), as well as FIFA, has never recognized Shah as PFF representative. global football body has given Shah's faction until Wednesday to vacate PFF and hand over its control back to Haroon Malik. FIFA had appointed a rmalization Committee in 2019 to hold elections after a long-drawn-out dispute between opposing groups in PFF and a number of court cases.