Football in Pakistan
Association football is a popular sport in Pakistan, alongside other sports such as cricket and field hockey, and is organised and regulated by the Pakistan Football Federation.[1][2][3][4]
Contents
History
Foundation of PFF
Football in Pakistan is as old as the country itself.[5] Shortly after the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Pakistan Football Federation(PFF) was created and Muhammad Ali Jinnah (the founder of Pakistan) became its first Patron-in-Chief. PFF got its recognition from FIFA in early 1948.[6]
Early years
The game was organised with the National Championship being held annually. Pakistan for the first time in 1950 sent a national team to Iran and Iraq to gain experience at the international level. In 1954, Pakistan National Team participated in the Asian Games at Manila and also toured the Far East. In 1958, Pakistan again took part in the Tokyo Asian Games. Pakistan also had been taking part in the annual Asian Quadrangular Tournament.[6]
Decline
The game could not develop as smoothly as it should have.[7] Pakistan's participation in international competitions has not been regular. The standard achieved in the early 1950s could not be maintained because of lack of organization of the game on modern lines and Groupism among the organizers.[6]
League system
The highest football division in Pakistan is the Pakistan Premier League, which expanded from 14 to 16 teams in August 2010.[8]
Cup competitions
The Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup is the national knockout competition of football in Pakistan.
National team
The Pakistan national football team is a member of the Asian Football Confederation, and its sub-confederation the South Asian Football Federation, as well as world governing board FIFA.[9][10]
References
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