The Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee has opted out of the Asian Games, which will be held in China, citing financial woes.

The decision from the Normalisation Committee came as a major blow to players and the sport’s future in the country.

Pakistan Sports Board DG Shoaib Khoso chaired the meeting in which the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) secretary Mohammad Khalid Mehmood confirmed that the PFF NC has opted out of the Games.

“The PFF NC has not only failed to meet the accreditation deadline, but it has also communicated it had no plan to participate in the Asian Games owing to financial constraints,” Khalid said.

The decision means that the largest 26 members contingent of the football team will not participate in the Games.

“The time to seek accreditation has already passed confirming that Pakistan will not be represented on the football field at the Asian Games,” he said.

Moreover, other federations including hockey presented their cases for reasonable participation and government financial support.

Overall, around 180 athletes from Pakistan are expected to take part in the game.

The 19th edition of the Asian Games is scheduled to be played in Hangzhou (China) from September 23 to October 8.