Tag: FIFA

ZURICH: FIFA on Thursday officially brought forward the opening match of this year’s World Cup by one day to November 20 in a rare change so that hosts Qatar feature in the gala game.

Football’s top officials universally approved the decision, FIFA said in a statement while Qatar said it would give unspecified help to fans affected by the change.

On the old schedule, Qatar against Ecuador was to be the official inauguration match on November 21 but Senegal against the Netherlands would be the first match of the day. England against Iran would have been second.

Qatar had also been frustrated as it has invested in a huge opening ceremony show.

“Host country Qatar will now play Ecuador on Sunday 20 November as part of a stand-alone event,” said FIFA.

“The opening match and ceremony of this year’s tournament at Al Bayt Stadium have been brought forward one day following a unanimous decision taken by the Bureau of the FIFA Council today.”

The bureau is made up of FIFA leader Gianni Infantino and the six heads of the continental confederations.

LAUSANNE: FIFA confirmed on Friday that a semi-automated offside system will be used at this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

The optical tracking system was trialed at the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi earlier this year and had also been tested at the Arab Cup in Qatar last December.

“Semi-automated offside technology is an evolution of the VAR systems that have been implemented across the world,” the global body’s president Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

“This technology is the culmination of three years of dedicated research and testing to provide the very best for the teams, players, and fans who will be heading to Qatar later this year, and FIFA is proud of this work, as we look forward to the world seeing the benefits of semi-automated offside technology at the World Cup 2022,” he added.

The data-driven, limb-tracking technology uses both dedicated and broadcast cameras around the stadium to give the exact position of players on the pitch, offering referees precise information within seconds.

The term “semi-automated” is used because FIFA insists match officials will still make the final call, with a dedicated VAR assistant in place to monitor offsides.

“The new technology uses 12 dedicated tracking cameras mounted underneath the roof of the stadium to track the ball and up to 29 data points of each individual player, 50 times per second, calculating their exact position on the pitch,” FIFA said.

“The 29 collected data points include all limbs and extremities that are relevant for making offside calls,” it added.

The competition begins on November 21 when Senegal plays the Netherlands in Doha with the final on December 18 in Lusail.

READ: FIFA lifts ban on Pakistan, restores international status

Ecuador will play at the World Cup in Qatar this year after FIFA dismissed the appeal of Chile to disqualify the team for fielding an ineligible player in the World Cup qualifiers.

Chile filed a complaint with FIFA that Byron Castillo, who played for Ecuador in the eight World Cup qualification matches, was actually a Columbian-born and three and a half years older than his documented age.

The governing body for world football, however, announced on Friday that it had decided to close the proceeding against the Ecuadorian Football Federation after considering all elements.

Following the decision, Ecuador will retain its spot in Group A which also features hosts Qatar, the Netherlands, and Senegal.

READ: 70-year-old Pakistani Naseemuddin receives two Guinness World Records

DOHA: In the 72nd Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Congress, 195 countries have voted in Pakistan’s favour to uplift the suspension from the country.

Pakistan received a tremendous 195 votes out of 199 votes during the 72nd FIFA Congress, indicating that a large majority of football-playing nations voted in favour of the country.

In the 210-nation congress, 208 countries were judged qualified to vote, although the total turnout remained at 199, with only four countries voting against Pakistan.

It is pertinent to mention here that the results of the voting will enable the council to lift the suspension once the pertinent requirements have been fulfilled.

READ: PFF delegation meets FIFA officials amid 72nd FIFA Congress

ISLAMABAD: The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) may soon uplift the ban from the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) as FIFA’s approved Normalization Committee (NC) has got the control of PFF House, here on Saturday.

In the latest development, the negotiations between FIFA’s nominated NC and the government has been successful and the Board of Revenue Punjab has returned the control of the PFF house to the NC.

Following this development, FIFA may soon uplift the ban from Pakistan Football, which came into effect in April 2021 over the ‘undue third-party influence’.

On this occasion, the Chairman of the NC Haroon Malik showed gratitude and thanked FIFA for its support towards the football nation and claimed the phase of global isolation of Pakistan Football has ended.

“We are grateful to FIFA for its patience and support in all matters,” Haroon said.

“A bad phase of global isolation of Pakistan football has now ended. We will now make sure Pakistan’s participation in international events,” Chairman NC added.

It is pertinent to mention here that FIFA banned PFF in April 2021; citing the undue third party influence.

READ: Women’s WC: Mandhana, Kaur hit centuries as India thump West Indies

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Normalization Committee (NC) – Haroon Malik claimed that the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) will soon uplift the ban from Pakistan Football following the return of FIFA House.

In a joint news conference held by FIFA and government officials, the chairman NC Haroon thanked FIFA for their support towards Pakistan football and is hopeful that things will move forward.

“I am thankful to FIFA for supporting Pakistan football. Hopefully, things will move forward now,” he said.

“I think FIFA will uplift the ban from Pakistan after the return of FIFA house,” he added.

Haroon further thanked the members of NC for playing a positive role in the development and claimed the committee will withdraw from the mandate after the uplifting of FIFA’s ban.

In a joint statement, NC also stated that the committee successfully mediated between FIFA and Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) as per the commitment.

Furthermore, NC also shared that the committee also aims to promote football in the country, while following the orders of PM Imran Khan to make decisions on merit.

On the other hand, Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza stated that she reviewed the things that were acceptable in the sanctions also emphasized that the rural areas are loaded with talented youngsters.

READ: Kings’ Mohammad Amir hopeful of playing next match against Zalmi

LAHORE: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has moved closer to uplifting its ban from Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) as the matters between the federal government and Normalization Committee (NC) has been settled.

In a recent development, the federal government has ordered the provincial government of Punjab to hand Lahore’s FIFA football house to NC.

Furthermore, Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza also contacted FIFA to share the recent development with the governing body.

On the other hand, the NC also expressed concern over Pakistan’s possible deprivation from the world football competitions.

“Due to FIFA sanctions, the country is deprived of competing in international events,” NC stated.

The committee, however, stated that the team can prepare for FIFA World Cup 2030 qualifiers by competing in the youth tournaments.

“Nine international events will be held this year, including the Asian Games and the Asian Youth Games,” NC stated.

“The team can prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2030 qualifiers by competing in the youth tournaments, whereas the qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup will be held in 2027” the committee added.

Furthermore, the normalization committee is optimistic about hosting both Asian Football Confederation (AFC) mega-events this year.

“Both AFC mega-events could be hosted in Pakistan,” NC.

On the other hand, the chairman NC – Haroon Malik said deprivation of participation in the major events, due to FIFA sanctions would be unfortunate for the country.

READ: PCB to remove Ijaz Ahmed due to poor U19 team’s performance: Sources

LAHORE: FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) approved a six month long extension for the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s Normalization Committee (NC).

In a letter issued by the FIFA for the extension of the NC, the football association acknowledged the significant success on judicial and governmental fronts.

“Significant progress in the legal and governmental realms; NC will continue to work,” FIFA.

Following the extension, the Chairman of NC – Haroon Malik is optimist that the PFF is one step closer to the restored membership of the country.

“Football is on the verge of finding a long-term solution to the dilemma. Pakistan is eager to reclaim its FIFA membership as quickly as possible,” Malik said.

Malik further stated that the committee will work tirelessly to achieve FIFA’s trust.

He also thanked the efforts of Minister of Inter Provincial Coordination of Pakistan, Dr. Fehmida Mirza and the Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar for the progress.

It is apropos to mention here that the FIFA suspended Pakistan’s membership after the normalization committee was ousted. Later, the football association also formed the NC to end the football crisis in Pakistan.

READ: Few sporting highlights of 2021 from Pakistan