Islamabad:The Normalization Committee of the Pakistan Football Federation has stirred controversy by categorizing Pakistani players with overseas origins as ‘foreign players’ in the upcoming National Women’s Football Championship starting across various cities today.
According to sources, the committee has allowed each participating team to include up to 2 foreign players. However, in an email sent on July 7th, teams were informed that only those players who hold Pakistani passports or Overseas Citizen of Pakistan (OC) cards are eligible to play as non-foreign players.
This decision has sparked astonishment from clubs, as these are the very documents that, according to FIFA regulations, classify these players as Pakistani citizens and thus eligible to represent the national women’s football team.
Sources suggest that various clubs were in the process of signing non-local players before this clarification was issued.
A PFF official explained to Geo that the rule initially allowed only two Pakistani-origin players, but an error in interpretation led to foreign players being listed instead. This clarification has now been provided to maintain balance in teams, allowing only Pakistani-origin players to participate.
In past editions of the championship, players from countries including Nepal and Maldives have played for various clubs, but the PFF’s current stance emphasizes maintaining team balance by permitting only players of Pakistani origin to participate.
