KARACHI: Former FIFA Development Officer Mohsen Gilani has been elected as the 17th president of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), securing victory after a closely contested election held following a six-year leadership vacuum.
In the second round of voting, Gilani clinched a simple majority with 13 votes, edging out Taha Alizai of Karachi United Football Club, who garnered 11 votes.
Gilani brings a wealth of experience from his previous role at FIFA, where he was involved in several regional football development initiatives. His election is seen as a pivotal moment for Pakistani football, which has endured years of turmoil marked by infighting, administrative paralysis, and repeated interventions by international governing bodies.
For more than a decade, the PFF has struggled with instability, leading FIFA to appoint three separate normalization committees in an effort to restore order. The resulting uncertainty sidelined Pakistan from both regional and international football competitions.
With the successful election of a permanent leadership, the PFF is now expected to move toward a more stable and autonomous future. However, Gilani and his team face significant challenges ahead. Chief among them are the revival of domestic competitions, the long-awaited launch of a franchise-style league, and strengthening the performance of national teams—particularly with the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers currently underway.
Earlier this month, the PFF postponed its Executive Committee elections, originally set for May 20, due to regional tensions and logistical hurdles. A letter from Acting General Secretary Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar, sent to Congress members on May 14, cited rising tensions between Pakistan and India as a key factor, affecting the travel plans of vital international observers from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The observers’ presence was considered crucial to maintaining transparency and credibility in the electoral process. These complications also hindered the organization of the PFF Extraordinary Congress.
Gilani’s election now opens a new chapter for football in Pakistan, with hopes high for a much-needed revival of the sport at all levels.
