When thinking of sports in Pakistan, most have visions of excited fans cheering on their favorite cricketers in packed Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches, Imran Khan lifting up the ICC World Cup in 1992, or past Olympic gold glory in field hockey.
But what about football (soccer)?
To many, it’s an evening pastime, the sort of activity that the neighborhood kids come together to play in the streets. Or an activity to play when a cricket bat and ball are unavailable.
“The Beautiful Game” was introduced to South Asia by the British Raj. While its rise to popularity was not as meteoric as cricket, the sport is definitely well appreciated and played all over the subcontinent.
The Durand Cup, an annual domestic competition first started in 1888, used to attract teams from all over the region that now consists of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The Indian Super League attracts a lot of star power and is a very successful venture. Millions of viewers tune in each year to watch various European soccer premier leagues and tournaments. The UEFA EURO 2020 garnered favorable response in the region, with matches reaching the top of the trending list on Pakistani Twitter.
Yet soccer isn’t regarded as a professional career path in Pakistan.
The lack of regard for professional soccer at a local level isn’t helped by the fact that disagreements between local Pakistani administrators and FIFA have had adverse results.
Bans were levied against the Pakistani soccer team and Pakistani players representing their country internationally. Players are sorely lacking professional training facilities and the domestic soccer league is amateurish at best, plagued by corrupt officials favoring personal gains over the promotion of the game.
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