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Ahmed Jan (referee)

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Ahmed Jan
Born (1952-03-23) 23 March 1952 (age 73)
Karachi, Pakistan
Domestic
Years League Role
1984–1992 National Football Championship Referee
International
Years League Role
1994–?? FIFA listed Referee

Ahmed Jan (Urdu: احمد جان; born 23 March 1952) is a Pakistani former footballer who played as goalkeeper, and former FIFA referee.

Early life

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Jan was born on 23 March 1952 in Karachi, Pakistan. He was the oldest among eight siblings, seven brothers and one sister. His father, Nadir Khan, hailed from Swat in the North-West Frontier Province. Jan completed his matriculation at City Boys Secondary School in Karachi.[1]

Playing career

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Jan began his football journey in 1968 as a goalkeeper for Makran Sports Old Golimar. Over the years, he went on to represent clubs such as Young Kalakot, Sindh Police, and the Pakistan Public Works Department (PPWD), before joining Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) in 1971, where he spent the majority of his playing career.[1][2] In 1971, he was selected to play for the Sindh provincial team during the National Football Championship held in Multan. However, in 1972, he withdrew from further trials due to internal team politics and favouritism.[1]

Refereeing career

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Inspired by the officiating of renowned local referees such as Nabi Bakhsh, Bahadur Khan, Jan Muhammad, and Captain Amin, Jan developed a keen interest in refereeing.[1] With their encouragement, he pursued this path and was granted a national referee card in 1984. Jan was also encouraged to pursue refereeing by fellow KMC and Pakistan international captain Muhammad Umer.[2] Jan officiated matches across the country until 1992.[1]

In 1994, Jan was included in the FIFA International Referees List after successfully passing a fitness test during a refresher course in Delhi. He went on to officiate 13 international matches in countries including China, Cambodia, Singapore, the Maldives, and India.[1][3][2][4]

Personal life

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Jan has been a well-known yet polarising figure within Pakistan’s football community. Recognised for his outspoken behaviour and frequent challenges to authority, he has had multiple disputes with the Pakistan Football Federation.[5]

He was appointed caretaker of the KMC Football Stadium in 1989 and continued in that role even after his official retirement from the KMC department in 2011.[2][6][7][8][9][10] On 26 August 1999, Jan survived an assassination attempt when two gunmen, in an attempt to take control of the KMC ground, fired several shots at him.[2]

In addition to his administrative duties, Jan also coached various football teams in Lyari,[11][12] including women’s teams.[13][14][15]

On 15 October 2008, the PFF suspended Jan for allegedly violating its Code of Conduct and Discipline after he publicly criticised the federation on television.[16][17] Jan, however, maintained that he held no formal position within either the PFF or the Sindh Football Association, and continued officiating matches without interruption, including the Karachi Football League final between Shahzad Mohammadan and Nazimabad on 14 February 2009.[18] On 28 May 2009, the PFF again placed a two-year ban and a 50,000 rupees fine on Jan, for allegedly insulting and criticising PFF officials in front of crowd and media.[18][19]

Jan's wife died on 23 August 2013 in Karachi.[20]

On 16 August 2024, Jan along with around 100 officials were issued notices by the Pakistan Football Federation due to their alleged role in creating a parallel association and orchestrating a hostile takeover of the PFF offices.[21][22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "فٹ بال ہیروز کی دنیا" [World of Football Heroes]. Daily Dunya (in Urdu). Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hasan, Shazia (22 June 2014). "The ground master". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Prejudice continues in football: PFF's Normalisation Committee keeps taking decisions that can't be justified | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  4. ^ "AFC chief condemns Pakistan attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  5. ^ Adil, Hafsa. "Christian footballer kicking down barriers in Pakistan". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  6. ^ "KMC Football stadium: Downtrodden glory - ARYSports.tv". 7 August 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  7. ^ "The story of Karachi's KMC football stadium | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Football in Karachi: Diamonds in the rough". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  9. ^ Ahmed, Sahar (24 January 2012). "In Pakistan's urban badland, soccer offers hope". Reuters. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  10. ^ Wasim, Umaid (17 November 2017). "Departmental teams contribute to ensure football survives after FIFA ban". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Girls from Karachi's shantytown blaze trail into football". The Nation. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  12. ^ Boone, Jon (7 August 2013). "Motorbike bomb kills 10 young footballers in Karachi". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Meet Joyann Thomas, Pakistan's first Christian football player". Al Arabiya English. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Pakistan Recruits First Christian Soccer Player Joyann Thomas on Women's Soccer Team - The Gospel Herald". www.gospelherald.com. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  15. ^ myra.khan (24 November 2013). "Fair game: Female footballers". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  16. ^ "PFF to take up banned FIFA referee's case". DAWN.COM. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  17. ^ "SPOT LIGHT: Lyari Soccer Documentary Touches Many Hearts". DAWN.COM. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Ex-FIFA referee fined, banned by PFF". DAWN.COM. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  19. ^ "Vision Asia to work with Pakistan football". DAWN.COM. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Coach's wife dies". www.thenews.com.pk. 24 August 2013. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013.
  21. ^ "PFF serves notices to over 100 individuals for being part of 'parallel association'". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  22. ^ "PFF NC issues notices to parallel bodies' members". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
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