KARACHI, July 27: Football activity in the country is expected to drop after Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) new condition of getting permission from them ahead of holding all football matches at the district and provincial levels.

According to the new guidelines laid down by the national football body on Friday, it has become compulsory to acquire permission to organise, play, patronise or participate in any football activity in the country.

The step has been taken by the PFF to put an end to the football tournaments being organised by unauthorised people.

Therefore, a specific criteria has been forwarded to all concerned according to which “permission for holding any local male/female football tournaments/championships, futsal events, organised by clubs, sponsors or any individual will be given by the District Football Association (DFA)”.

In order to get this permission the organisers will have to apply on company pad/letter head to DFA minimum two months before the start of the events. “Similarly, any such event organised by clubs/districts, sponsors or any individual will be granted by Provincial Football Association (PFA) for which the organisers will have to apply on company pad/letter head/DFA letter head to PFA eight weeks prior to the tournaments/championships.

“For all Pakistan male/female football tournaments/championships, the organisers will send a request to PFA, who will then send a request to the PFF eight weeks before the start of tournament for the approval,” read a handout issued by the PFF.

It was also said that all concerned tournament or championship organisers are to keep in mind that if a registered player participates in any unauthorised events, then severe action will be taken against him as per PFF policy.

Moreover, PFF will take stringent action on the authorities concerned for organising unauthorised events.

The new directive is said to be in accordance with FIFA and AFC’s code of conduct and competition rules.