To Russia with love: Pak government in action to ensure football friendly on short notice

They say politics and sports do not mix well.

Try telling that to Pakistan’s government authorities, who are working overtime to make sure that a political commitment is fulfilled on a football field in Russia later this week.

This is a story about a football friendly that has created a headache not just for Pakistan’s sports authorities but also for top government officials.

Currently, Pakistan’s government is racing against time in its bid to send the national football team to Russia for a friendly lined up for October 11.

Due to involvement of the governments on both sides the matter has become hugely important.

According to sources the government is making an all-out effort to send the team at any cost to face Russia on October 11.

Sources said that federal minister Musaddiq Malik contacted a senior official of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Tuesday thrice and asked for the team’s list so that Russian visas could be secured as Islamabad has committed with Moscow that it is sending its team there.

“We are trying our best to send the team to Russia,” a source in the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) told Nukta.

What is the match all about?

The first question is why Russia, a team ranked No.34 in the FIFA world rankings, is so keen to play Pakistan (ranked No.197).

Iraq's Ayman Hussein in action with Russia's Maksim Osipenko during a friendly match at the Gazprom Arena, Saint Petersburg in 2023.Reuters

It’s all about politics. Russia is facing international sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine. When it comes to international sport, it has become a pariah. Russia was not allowed to compete in the Paris Olympics this year. Its football team hasn’t played any international matches for quite some time and is surviving on friendlies with friendly nations.

It seems Russia counts Pakistan as one.

The story is that in May this year during FIFA’s 74th Congress in Bangkok both the PFF and their Russian counterparts discussed the possibility of staging a friendly match in October.

According to sources, football officials of both nations also remained in contact with Zoom in the weeks that followed the meeting in Bangkok.

The Russian federation wanted PFF NC to send the team for a friendly in October but NC wanted to play the game in November.

“When NC told the Russian federation that they would be sending the team in November they did not reply,” a well-connected source told Nukta.

Sources said that Russia then approached Pakistan’s government directly to line up the game.

Pakistan is currently getting ready to host delegates for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be held later this month in Islamabad. Russia is one of the important members of SCO.

According to sources, Islamabad is keen to make a positive gesture by sending the national football team to Russia ahead of the SCO.

On Tuesday a senior official of the PSB also approached Islamabad Football Federation (IFA), seeking its assistance in forming the team for the tour.

The team photo of the Pakistan football team before their opening match of the SAFF Championship 2023 against India at the Kanteerava Stadium.All India Football Federation

Sources said that IFA contacted NC for permission but it did not reply. Sources added that an 18-member team has already been finalized which includes 15 international players adding that the Russian embassy in Islamabad is ready to issue visas to the team.

Both the PSB and PFF NC officials could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts from this correspondent.

Match unlikely to take place

However, in a latest development, Pakistan’s government has been informed by their Russian counterparts that they need Pakistan’s senior team for an international friendly and not any other side.

“Yes, we have been communicated by the Russian government that they need our top-tier team for international friendly on October 11 and we emailed them back that if this is the case then it is the job of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee,” a PSB official, who is dealing with the matter, confirmed it to Nukta.

“We have also told them if they want our low-level team for friendly then Pakistan can send that. We will get their reply,” the official said.

Meanwhile, according to a Russian website, the Russian Football Union (RFU) communications services have also said that the match between national teams of Russia and Pakistan will not take place during the current international break.

“The RFU continued to discuss with Pakistan the possibility of a friendly match, however, based on the timeframe of training camp it decided not to hold the game,” it said.

Pak women’s team: Innocent bystanders?

Meanwhile, the Pakistan women’s team might suffer due to the ongoing tussle between PSB and PFF NC over the Russian match issue.

The PSB on Tuesday refused to issue NOC to the Pakistan women football team which is set to feature in the SAFF Cup set to begin in Nepal from October 17.

The team is currently training at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad. If Pakistan men’s team does not proceed to Russia for the proposed friendly then it may also affect Pakistan women’s team’s participation in the SAFF Cup due to conflict between PFF NC and PSB.