LAHORE, May 28 Pakistan Football Federation Disciplinary Committee (PFFDC) on Thursday imposed a two-year ban on former FIFA Referee Ahmed Jan.

The committee set up to inquire into allegations of indiscipline against Ahmed Jan suspended him for two years from taking part in any football-related activities including refereeing of matches organised by the PFF or its affiliated units/sub units.

He has also been fined Rs50,000 for supposedly using insulting language against PFF officials while gathering a crowd including the print and electronic media to publicly criticise the PFF set up. Ahmed Jan had been suspended earlier too on Oct 15, 2008 from taking part in all football-related activities until further orders for breach of the PFF Code of Conduct and Discipline.

The federation had taken serious view of Ahmed Jan's allegations against the PFF that he made through the media, an act which is in clear violation of Para 2c and 2n of the PFF Code of Conduct and Discipline.

His case was forwarded to the PFFDC for finalisation after which its Chairman Naseebullah Bazai Khan decided to suspend the former FIFA referee for having overlooked the previous suspension despite knowing his case was under review of the PFFDC and carrying out repeated demonstrations at the CDGK Stadium.

Ahmed Jan was also served two show cause notices in October-November 2008 to which he had replied by saying that he was not a member/employee of either the PFF or the Sindh Football Associaion, therefore, being an ordinary person he couldn't be served with such notices. Saying so, he kept on refereeing matches like the KASB Premier League Football decider between Shahzad Mohammadan and Nazimabad FC on Feb 14, 2009.

Thus remaining actively involved in refereeing, Ahmed Jan was liable to follow the PFF Code of Conduct and Discipline and can be charged/punished for any violation of PFF Code of Conduct and Discipline.—PPI

Our Sports Reporter adds from Karachi

While giving his reaction to the PFFDC suspension and fine, Ahmed Jan told Dawn on Thursday that he intended challenging the PFF in the court of law.

“I have discussed this with my lawyer and he has assured me that the PFF have no right to suspend me for anything as they never served me with any kind of notice to inform me of these charges. I only get to learn about them through the media as I did today as well,” he said.

“I am going to court on Friday to challenge each and every charge. This is after all a democracy and not being under any kind of contract with the PFF, SFA or any of its zones, I have a right to speak freely and make my opinion known,” he justified.

“First of all, the PFF should not have a problem with my refereeing a KASB Premier League Football match as it was a Sports 360 event and has nothing to do with the federation.

“Then even if the organisers had some kind of an understanding with the PFF, why not go ahead with all this suspension nonsense on Feb 15 or 16 instead of waking up over three months after the match?” He asked.

“I know what is really going on here. The private club league commences again in July and seeing that its organisers are satisfied with the previous edition's arrangements and officials, the PFF just wants to create a ruckus while trying to cut me out for their own selfish reasons,” he said.