2021–22 Pakistan Premier League (2021–22 PPL) was to be the 62nd season of Pakistani domestic football and the 13th season of the Pakistan Premier League. Each team was scheduled to play play each other twice for a total of 22 games. The league was not recognised by FIFA, as it was organized by the then PFF President, Ashfaq Hussain Shah, who came to power after attacking and taking charge of the PFF office.[1] The tournament was suspended after a few months into the season and then cancelled.[2]
| Season | 2021–22 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 14 August 2021 – 9 November 2021 |
| Champions | None |
| Relegated | None |
← 2018–19
Cancelled | |
Overview
editOn 27 March 2021, the PFF's office was attacked and people inside held hostage by its former controversially elected president, Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah, and his group, who again came to power after attacking and taking charge of the PFF office.[3][4][5]
Due to the attack FIFA imposed a suspension on the Pakistan Football Federation on 7 April 2021 with immediate effect due to third-party interference, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA statutes. Hence, no football activity was possible in Pakistan and the men's Pakistan Premier League was yet to start.[6][7][8] The Ashfaq-led PFF group anyhow announced that the 2021 edition of PPL would be held from August.[1]
The league was ultimately not recognised by FIFA, as it was organized by Ashfaq Hussain Shah.[1] The tournament was suspended after a few months into the season and then cancelled.[2] With only around a dozen of matches played by each team, WAPDA was the leading team with 24 points.[9][10]
Teams
edit
Disbanded
editK-Electric in 2020 announced that they will be shutting down their department, therefore didn't participate in the tournament.[1]
Teams relegated to PFFL
editKarachi Port Trust, Baloch Nushki, Ashraf Sugar Mills and Pakistan Airlines were relegated at the end of the 2018–19 season.
Teams promoted to Pakistan Premier League
editBaloch Quetta got promoted after winning their leg in the 2020 PFF League. Masha United, Karachi United and Gwadar Port Authority also qualified for the league. Huma F.C. from Islamabad made their debut in the top tier, even though they didn't get promoted from the 2020 PFF League. Along with Lyallpur, they replaced the other teams which were not participating in the competition.[11]
Teams not participating
editMasha United, which was promoted to the top-tier, and Chaman major team Afghan FC decided to not participate in the event, saying it was being held by a federation which is not recognised by FIFA.[1] National Bank was another team not featuring. Sources told "The News" that the majority of National Bank players had already passed their prime.[1] Promoted sides Gwadar Port Authority and Baloch Quetta also declined to enter.[2]
Stadiums and locations
edit| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyallpur | Faisalabad | Railways Ground | 10,000 |
| Civil Aviation Authority | Karachi | Korangi Baloch Stadium | 5,000 |
| Karachi United | Karachi | Karachi United Stadium | 2,000 |
| Khan Research Laboratories | Rawalpindi | KRL Ground | 8,000 |
| Huma | Islamabad | Jinnah Sports Stadium | 48,820 |
| Muslim | Chaman | Jamal Nasir Stadium | 12,000 |
| Sui Northern Gas | Lahore | Punjab Stadium | 10,000 |
| Pakistan Air Force | Peshawar | PAF Complex | 2,000 |
| Pakistan Army | Rawalpindi | Army Stadium | 7,000 |
| Pakistan Navy | Islamabad | PNS Karsaz Stadium | 5,000 |
| Sui Southern Gas | Karachi | Karachi Port Trust Stadium | 5,000 |
| WAPDA | Lahore | Punjab Stadium | 10,000 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "PPFL to begin in Multan from August 14". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ a b c "Pakistan 2021/22". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ Maryam, Hajira. "'Dark day': Pakistan football HQ attacked, women's event scrapped". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
- ^ "'Hostile takeover' and smashed glass: turmoil in Pakistan's football". the Guardian. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
- ^ "PFF congress authorises Ashfaq to thwart NC's delaying tactics". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ "FIFA suspends Pakistan, Chad football federations over interference". Reuters. 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
- ^ "FIFA suspends Pakistan football after 'hostile takeover'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
- ^ FIFA.com. "Who We Are - News - FIFA suspends Chad and Pakistan football associations". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
- ^ "Pakistan Premier League 2021/2022 - Results, fixtures, tables and stats - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ "Zusammenfassung - Premier League - Pakistan - Ergebnisse, Spielpläne, Tabellen und News - Soccerway". de.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ "PPFL set to get underway from 14th in Multan". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-09-07.