KARACHI: Football enthusiasts in Pakistan may miss out on the opportunity to witness Pakistan’s World Cup qualifier against Jordan at home as the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has confirmed that Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium does not meet the global governing body’s standards.
In a statement released on Monday, the PFF said it is actively exploring alternative venues to ensure the game is played at a neutral site.
“In collaboration with the Pakistan Sports Committee, the Pakistan Football Federation is working tirelessly to prepare the Jinnah Stadium for the upcoming match against Jordan in March,” PFF said.
“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the current standard of the Jinnah Stadium does not meet FIFA requirements,” he added.
PFF highlighted the significant challenge of lighting conditions, saying: “Given that the March match is scheduled to be played under lights and coincides with Ramazan, meeting FIFA’s lighting standards with the current setup presents difficulties.”
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Citing a January 21 deadline to hand over the venue and a commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game, the PFF confirmed its decision to explore alternative options. “We will be in contact with the Jordan Football Association to discuss arrangements for a neutral venue for the home game,” the statement added.
Jinnah Stadium previously hosted Pakistan’s home FIFA World Cup qualifier against Tajikistan in November, attracting 24,000 spectators to cheer on the national team.
While Pakistan’s next home match against Jordan is scheduled for March 21, this recent development has left football fans in Pakistan disappointed.
