Delayed submission of relevant documents: SAG organisers refuse accreditation to Pak footballers

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan football has received a big jolt as the 13th South Asian Games (SAG) organising committee in Nepal has refused to issue accreditation to players and officials for what they called a delayed submission of all the relevant documents.A well-placed source present in Nepal has confirmed to The News that accreditation papers of Pakistan football team were submitted with the organising committee only on Thursday almost eight days after the expiry of deadline. “The organizing committee has refused to accept Pakistan football team accreditation saying that it is too late and proper adjustment cannot be made at this point of time,” a source said.November 20 was the last date of submission of the accreditation papers with the Organising Committee. “We have already finalized the draws for the 13th SA Games football event and these cannot be changed at the eleventh hour. November 20 was the last day to apply for accreditation. November 28 is too late and Pakistan football team cannot be accommodated for accreditation,” the organising committee officials said.The Normalisation Committee (NC) of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) finalized 18-team members and two officials for accreditation only on Thursday forwarding these to Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) for accreditation. The News has learnt that POA forwarded the matter the organizing committee the same day. “We have forwarded names of selected members for accreditation on Thursday with a hope that we would get the accreditation. Our camp is already under way and waited till the last for selection of teams,” a Normalisation Committee member when contacted said. Pakistan has been considered as one of the powerhouses of SA Football. There was every chance that the team would repeat the performance they shown last time they entered the game.“We are left high and dry as so far all our efforts to get accreditation for the football players went fruitless. The Organisers are not ready to make any changes in the draws so late. I think fault entirely lies with the Normalisation Committee that took too long to finalise their team for the Games. Such Games required timely decision and sadly that did not happen,” the source in Nepal said. Efforts, however, were on to convince the Organsing Committee to make the required adjustment and include Pakistan team in the draws. The organisers however were not ready to oblige saying that it was against the laid down rules.The POA had intimated all the federation to abide by rules when it comes to meeting the deadlines for each and every game. Being new to helm, the Normalisation Committee has messed up the matter to leave Pakistan football team on the brink.

from The News International - Sports https://ift.tt/2QXBSA6