Former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Shireen Mazari has come under heavy fire on social media after she dismissed Pakistan’s comeback draw with the Philippines as proof of the “pathetic” state of football.
Pakistan came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Philippines in the FIFA ASEAN Cup on Tuesday. Pakistan Football celebrated it on X writing, “History made, and in some style. Pakistan fought back from two goals down to make it 2–2, earning a point in the process.”
Mazari replied to the post: “The pathetic state of our football is reflected in deriving small pleasure from actually scoring 2 goals to even the score! No wins, no medals, just actually managing to score a goal or two.”
Her words landed badly with many fans because of what the result meant. It was Pakistan’s first appearance in a FIFA tournament, and the draw gave them their first goals and their first point. They got it after recovering from 2-0 down against a Philippines side ranked 135th, more than 60 places above Pakistan’s 198th.
Journalist Faizan Lakhani was among those who pushed back. “And this is precisely why politicians should leave sports to people who understand it,” he wrote on X.
Others went after her party. One football page asked why she did not speak up when the sport was in trouble.
“Pakistan Football Federation was banned for 15months during PTI govt and you didn’t utter a single word about it because your Chief Whip was involved in the hijacking of the federation,” it posted. It also asked what her party has done for football at federal or provincial level.
The ban is a matter of record. FIFA suspended the Pakistan Football Federation in April 2021 over undue third-party interference, and the FIFA Council lifted the suspension on 29 June 2022. The suspension lasted about 15 months.
The trigger was a group of officials led by Ashfaq Hussain Shah, who threw out the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee. The suspension began while PTI was in government and ended less than three months after Imran Khan lost power in April 2022.
Another user brought up Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
“Thank you for making world class stadiums and giving KP incredible levels of facilities. I don’t know how they can’t even produce a single good player despite these world class facilities provided by the VERY competent provincial government. We are so sorry!” the user sarcastically wrote.
One fan called her post “Exactly the pathetic mindset that has kept our football stuck for years.” The post added that players get mocked instead of supported.
“There is a reason we keep getting suspended after political interference after all,” one football fan wrote.
Another said, “What a disgraceful and a disrespectful tweet considering how far our football setup has come in recent times. This is a FIFA tournament ma’am. You need to check your football knowledge before posting this.”
The draw keeps Pakistan’s campaign alive in Group B. They face Vietnam in their final match.
