PFF to take legal action against organisers of Indo-Pak series

Lahore: The Pakistan Football Federation has decided to initiate legal action against the organisers of a planned series against India in England which was postponed for the second time last month.

A PFF official said a letter has been sent to Touch Skysports which had taken the rights of the series and was to host the series in September in England. The Pakistan and Indian football federations had agreed to play the three-match series in July-August this year but the series was then reduced to two matches in September after the first postponement by the organisers. But hours after the PFF announced its team and captain for the series, the UK-based organisers again postponed the series for an indefinite period. "The series is now as good as cancelled as far as understand we have asked the organisers for a settlement for the financial losses caused to us and also for an apology for the inconvenience and embarrassment we have suffered because of the series not being held on schedule," the official said. Another source said the PFF President Saleh Faisal Hayat had also spoken to officials in the Asian football Confederation and then decided to send the letter to Touchsky sports seeking a settlement and apology. "We have sent a letter to the head of the TSS and if we don`t get the settlement and apology we can initiate legal action against them," he added. The organisers had full broadcasting and advertising rights for the series that was to be played in Derby and Glasgow this month with one match even being dedicated to the memory of the three Pakistani youths killed in the Birmingham riots. Touchsky sports informed the PFF they had to postpone the series on the request of the bereaved family of the slain boys. "There is no doubt the unilateral decision to postpone the series two days ahead of our team`s departure for England left not only us but the All India football federation also very disappointed," another official said. However, the PFF official admitted that the organisers had already paid for the squads` tickets and appearance as part of their first two installments. "They were yet to pay two more such installments when they decided to put it off for next year," the official added. He said the series was not possible in the immediate future since the Pakistan Premier League is to resume shortly and the Indian local league is also underway. "Both teams also have to prepare for the South Asian Football Federation Cup in December," the official said. PTI