The FIFA Goal Project in Pakistan has encountered a significant setback as the District Administration of Abbottabad has prematurely cancelled the 30-year lease of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), reported 24NewsHD TV channel Thursday.
The district administration has issued orders for the PFF to vacate the ground, a move that has raised concerns about the future of football activities in the region.
This decision comes at a critical time, as the national U-17 team's training camp, which is being held in preparation for the SAFF U-17 Championship, is scheduled to take place on the same ground.
The abrupt cancellation is likely to disrupt the training camp, potentially affecting both the players and the sport as a whole.
Haroon Malik, the Chairman of the Normalization Committee (NC) overseeing the PFF, expressed his concerns over the decision, stating that it would have a negative impact on the development of football in Abbottabad. He urged the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take immediate notice of the situation and intervene.
NC member Shahid Khokhar also highlighted the seriousness of the district administration's decision, warning that it could jeopardize the substantial investment made by FIFA in Pakistan's football infrastructure.
The fear of losing hundreds of millions in FIFA funding looms large, further complicating the situation for Pakistan's football community.